Keywords
Abstract
The rapid growth in the production and consumption of lithium-ion batteries has led to a significant increase in battery waste, creating both environmental challenges and opportunities for resource recovery. Lithium is considered one of the most critical strategic metals due to its widespread use in energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronic devices. Therefore, the development of efficient technologies for lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries has become an important research direction. This paper presents a comparative analysis of hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical, and hybrid recycling technologies used for lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries. The advantages and limitations of each approach are discussed with respect to lithium extraction efficiency, energy consumption, environmental impact, process complexity, and industrial applicability. Particular attention is given to the recovery of lithium from layered lithium metal oxide cathode materials such as LiCoO₂ and LiNiCoMnO₂. In addition, current industrial recycling processes and their effectiveness in lithium recovery are reviewed. The analysis demonstrates that hydrometallurgical methods provide higher lithium recovery efficiency and product purity, while pyrometallurgical technologies offer better scalability and operational simplicity. Hybrid processes combining both approaches are identified as promising alternatives for achieving sustainable and economically viable lithium recycling. The results highlight the importance of developing integrated recycling technologies to support the circular economy and secure future lithium resources.