Life cycle assessment of graphite recycling from spent lithium ion batteries

Abstract

This work aims to understand the environmental impacts of recycling graphite from spent lithium ion batteries to battery grade graphite with the help of life cycle assessment study and compares it to the production of virgin battery grade graphite with the electricity mix of Germany and China. The results show that recycling reduces around 5 times the CO2 produced per kg as compared to production of virgin battery grade graphite and is even more when compared to other author’s results. With too small to even negligible production of graphite in the European Union, its current and future production is discussed along with the option of recycling from various waste streams which could be a potential solution to contribute to the future demand of graphite. Also, all the life stages of graphite are discussed in this study including their biggest reserves, price, applications and supply chain.