What Are the Methods for Lithium Battery Recycling?

With millions of tons of lithium batteries reaching end of life each year, finding efficient and environmentally sound recycling solutions has never been more urgent. Two main approaches dominate the industry: chemical recycling and physical recycling. Each follows a different path and carries distinct environmental implications.

Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling, often called hydrometallurgy, uses acidic or chemical solutions to dissolve and extract valuable metals such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium from spent batteries. While it can achieve high purity in metal recovery, the process is complex and resource-intensive. It involves multiple stages, consumes large quantities of chemicals, and generates wastewater and solid residues that require careful treatment. Due to these environmental challenges and the high cost of operating compliant treatment facilities, many countries are shifting away from promoting chemical recycling as a preferred method.

Waste lithium battery chemical recycling

Physical Recycling

Physical recycling method for lithium batteries relies on mechanical and physical processes—such as crushing, screening, and separation—to recover valuable materials without using chemicals or water. The dry-type physical separation method, in particular, is gaining attention for its simplicity and low environmental impact. It avoids liquid waste, reduces the risk of secondary pollution, and generally operates with higher energy efficiency. This method effectively recovers copper, aluminum, and black mass, supporting direct reuse in battery production or other industries.

When it comes to putting physical recycling into practice, the right lithium battery recycling machine makes all the difference. At Henan Doing, our recycling systems are built to handle various types of lithium batteries, including EV/power batteries, consumer electronics batteries, industrial batteries, and production scrap materials - primarily focusing on both NMC(Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP(Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery types.

Our lithium battery recycling machine makes dry physical separation highly efficient and safe. The system handles the entire process—from automatic discharging, crushing, to sorting and purification—with minimal manual intervention. With integrated pulse dust collector and gas and smoke removal machine, it maintains a clean workspace while achieving a recovery purity of ≥98% for materials like copper, aluminum, and black mass.

Physical lithium ion battery recycling machine

Beyond equipment performance, we back every system with complete service support. Our team provides installation guidance and operational training to ensure smooth setup and operation. Should any issues arise, our after-sales team offers prompt technical support to minimize downtime.

Choosing the right recycling method for recycling lithium battery is a key step toward sustainable battery management. With dry physical recycling technology that accommodates multiple battery types, you're investing in a practical, future-ready solution. If you're looking for reliable lithium battery recycling machine or have questions about handling your specific battery streams, we're here to help. Contact us today to learn how Henan Doing can support your recycling operations.