Lithium Extraction from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) Using Mechanochemical Process: A Comprehensive Review

The rapidly rising demand for lithium has made the recycling of spent lithium-ion battery highly attractive. However, the conventional process has faced environmental problems due to gas and wastewater generation, high-energy consumption, and the use of strong acids/alkalis for an extended period of time. An innovative recycling technology exploiting the mechanochemical process is proposed to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional process and improve the metal recovery from spent batteries. In general, the unique mechanism by mechanochemical reaction enables metal extraction with non-hazardous materials and minimal use of solvents at ambient temperature. This emerging technique can be combined with hydrometallurgical processes and offers potential for reagent regeneration. This article reviews different recycling technologies for spent lithium-ion battery cathode materials, particularly the mechanochemical process, to achieve circular economy in spent battery recycling and enhance lithium recovery.