Demand for critical materials (nickel, cobalt, manganese [NCM], and lithium) for use in batteries is increasing rapidly due to the expansion of the battery-electric vehicles market. Battery metal recycling (BMR) is an important technology that can potentially realize environmental and economic benefits in cathode active material (LiNi_xMn_yCo_zO₂) production using recycled materials. While current major battery recycling technologies recover cathode materials (NCM) and other metals (steel, aluminum, copper, etc.) from the spent battery, the lithium (Li) recovery rate is less than 1% in the world. In this study, we analyze the environmental benefits of a BMR process that recovers lithium in the form of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH∙H₂O) along with other cathode materials. Using life-cycle analysis (LCA), we evaluate the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, criteria air pollutant emissions, and water consumption of the new BMR technology in terms of lithium hydroxide production and cathode active material production. The LCA results show that the life-cycle GHG emissions recycled LiOH are 37–72% lower than those of virgin LiOH production from Chilean brine and Australian ore, respectively. In addition, the life-cycle GHG emissions of NCM811 produced using the recycled materials are 40–48% lower compared to virgin cathode active material production. Furthermore, recovering lithium from the spent batteries reduces associated air pollutant emissions and water consumption relative to using the virgin materials or materials from other recycling technologies without LiOH recovery.

由于电池电动汽车市场的扩张，对用于电池的关键材料（镍、钴、锰 [NCM] 和锂）的需求正在迅速增加。电池金属回收 (BMR) 是一项重要技术，可在正极活性材料 (LiNi _x Mn _y Co _z O ₂) 使用再生材料生产。虽然目前主要的电池回收技术是从废旧电池中回收正极材料（NCM）和其他金属（钢、铝、铜等），但全球锂（Li）回收率不到1%。在本研究中，我们分析了以氢氧化锂一水合物 (LiOH∙H ₂O) 以及其他正极材料。使用生命周期分析 (LCA)，我们评估了新 BMR 技术在氢氧化锂生产和正极活性材料生产方面的生命周期温室气体 (GHG) 排放、标准空气污染物排放和耗水量。LCA 结果表明，循环使用的 LiOH 的生命周期 GHG 排放量分别比从智利盐水和澳大利亚矿石中生产的原始 LiOH 低 37-72%。此外，与原始正极活性材料生产相比，使用回收材料生产的 NCM811 的生命周期温室气体排放量降低了 40-48%。此外，