The environmental protection characteristics of polymer lithium-ion battery are first reflected in the separability of its material composition in recycling, which lays the foundation for efficient recycling. The positive electrode material, negative electrode material, diaphragm, electrolyte and other components inside the battery are closely combined but have obvious chemical properties. They can be effectively separated by specific physical or chemical methods. For example, there is no strong chemical bond between the metal elements such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel in the positive electrode and the carbon material in the negative electrode. After physical treatment such as crushing and screening, the two can be initially separated. This easy-to-separate characteristic reduces the dependence on complex chemical reagents in the recycling process, reduces the pollution risk in the recycling link, and makes the recycling of each component more feasible.
The controllable treatment of harmful components during the recycling process is an important manifestation of its environmental protection characteristics. The electrolyte in the battery contains certain corrosive substances. If it is discarded at will, it will pollute the soil and water sources. The standardized recycling process will treat the electrolyte through sealed collection, chemical neutralization, etc., converting it into harmless substances or landfilling it harmlessly. At the same time, the plastic or metal materials of the battery shell will be cleaned and disinfected during recycling to remove harmful substances that may be attached to the surface and prevent these materials from releasing pollutants during reuse. This targeted treatment of harmful components prevents the recycling process itself from becoming a new source of pollution, which meets the core requirements of environmental protection.
The materials of polymer lithium-ion battery have high reusability value, and after recycling, they can realize the recycling of resources and reduce dependence on primary resources. After purification, the rare metals in the positive electrode materials can be reused to make new battery positive electrodes, and the performance is almost the same as that of the original materials; after treatment, the carbon materials of the negative electrode can be used as fuel or used again in battery production; the metal and plastic of the shell can be melted and reshaped to make new industrial products. The recycling of this material not only reduces the environmental damage caused by the mining of primary minerals, such as vegetation destruction and soil erosion caused by mining, but also reduces the amount of landfill of waste, allowing resources to be efficiently utilized in a closed loop, reflecting the environmental protection concept of circular economy.
The low energy consumption characteristics of the recycling process further highlight the environmental advantages of polymer lithium-ion battery in recycling. Compared with the extraction of virgin materials, the energy consumption required in the recycling process is lower. For example, the recovery of lithium from waste batteries does not require energy-consuming links such as mining and high-temperature smelting. It can be purified through a simplified process of hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy, which greatly reduces energy consumption. At the same time, with the advancement of recycling technology, more and more processes use physical separation instead of chemical treatment, reducing energy-consuming steps such as heating and stirring, making the entire recycling process more energy-efficient, reducing dependence on fossil energy, and indirectly reducing carbon emissions, which meets the requirements of green development.
The high-purity control of the recycled products allows the recycled materials of polymer lithium-ion batteries to be widely used in multiple fields, expanding the way to realize environmental value. After fine processing, the purity of battery materials can reach a high level. For example, the purity of recycled cobalt powder can meet the standards for new battery production, and the recycled plastic particles can be used to make food packaging grade plastic products. This high-purity recycled material does not need to be mixed with virgin materials and can be directly put into production as raw materials, avoiding the problem of limiting the scope of application due to insufficient material purity. The extensive reuse of materials maximizes the value of recycling, reduces the demand for new resources, and reduces the impact of production activities on the environment from the source.
The easy promotion of the recycling system enables the environmentally friendly recycling of polymer lithium-ion batteries to be realized on a larger scale. Compared with some batteries with complex structures and difficult recycling, the recycling process of polymer lithium-ion batteries is relatively simple, and the required equipment and technical thresholds are relatively low. Small recycling companies can also master basic recycling methods. At the same time, the standardized design of the battery allows polymer lithium-ion batteries of different brands and models to adopt similar recycling processes, which facilitates the establishment of a unified recycling system. This easy-to-promote feature allows more waste batteries to be included in standardized recycling channels, reduces the phenomenon of private disassembly and random disposal, improves the overall recycling rate, and expands the coverage of environmental protection effects.
Strict control of secondary pollution during the recycling process is an important guarantee for its environmental protection characteristics in practical applications. Formal recycling companies will be equipped with complete waste gas and wastewater treatment systems. The small amount of waste gas generated during the recycling process will be discharged after purification, and the wastewater will be discharged after reaching the standard after sedimentation, filtration, biochemical treatment and other steps, which will not affect the surrounding environment. At the same time, the recycling site will be treated to prevent leakage to prevent waste liquid from seeping into the ground and polluting the soil and groundwater. This zero-tolerance attitude towards secondary pollution ensures that recycling will not cause new environmental problems while protecting the environment, and that the concept of environmental protection runs through the entire life cycle of the battery.
In addition, the recycling of polymer lithium-ion batteries helps to reduce the total amount of electronic waste and alleviate the pressure of garbage disposal, which is also an indirect manifestation of its environmental protection characteristics. With the popularization of electronic devices, the number of used batteries has increased dramatically. If they are not effectively recycled, they will occupy a large amount of landfill space, and some harmful substances will lurk in the environment for a long time. Through recycling, most battery materials are reused, and only a very small number of unrecyclable residues need to be processed, which greatly reduces the volume and harm of electronic waste. This not only reduces the load on landfills, but also reduces the manpower and material costs required to process these wastes, allowing limited environmental capacity to be used more reasonably.
