The main methods used for dry separation and recycling of lithium batteries include physical sorting and high-temperature pyrolysis.
(1) Physical sorting method: The physical sorting method involves dismantling and separating batteries. Components such as electrode active materials, current collectors, and battery casings undergo crushing, screening, magnetic separation, fine crushing, and classification to obtain valuable substances with high content;
* The operation of physical sorting method is relatively simple
(2) High-temperature pyrolysis method: This refers to the process of subjecting lithium battery materials, which have undergone preliminary separation treatments such as physical crushing, to high-temperature calcination and decomposition. This process removes the organic binder, thereby separating the constituent materials of the lithium battery. Simultaneously, it also allows the metals and their compounds in the lithium battery to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions and decompose, volatilizing in vapor form, which can then be collected using methods such as condensation.
*The high-temperature pyrolysis treatment technology has a simple process and is easy to operate, with fast reaction speed and high efficiency under high temperature conditions. However, this method requires high-quality equipment. During the treatment process, the decomposition of organic matter in batteries produces harmful gases, which are not environmentally friendly. Therefore, purification and recovery equipment needs to be added to absorb and purify harmful gases to prevent secondary pollution.
