With the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and the accelerating replacement cycle of electronic products, the world is poised to face an unprecedented surge in spent power batteries. The metals—including lithium, cobalt, and nickel—contained in spent lithium-ion batteries (SLIBs) represent a valuable "urban mine," yet they also pose a significant environmental threat if improperly managed. Identifying the optimal balance between resource recovery efficiency, economic viability, and environmental sustainability has become a central research focus in this field.
In response to this challenge, a research team from the College of Mining Engineering at North China University of Science and Technology has published a comprehensive review article, presenting a detailed technical roadmap for the resource recovery of cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. Led by Shaoying Li and Liucheng Zhao's group at the university, the study constructs a tripartite research framework —integrating "data, mechanisms, and systems"—by combining bibliometric analysis with in-depth techno-economic assessment of multiple technological pathways.
The study first elucidates the research landscape in this field: since 2019, the number of relevant publications has surged, with China, the United States, and South Korea emerging as the major research contributors. Research hotspots have shifted from early-stage material modification towards life-cycle management and systems-level engineering applications. At the core technology level, the research team provides a multi-dimensional analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the dominant recycling technologies currently available. Although hydrometallurgy can achieve leaching rates exceeding 95% for lithium and cobalt with high product purity, it is confronted with high reagent costs and severe wastewater treatment challenges. Pyrometallurgy offers large processing capacity and operational simplicity, yet it is extremely energy-intensive, suffers from lithium volatilization losses at elevated temperatures, and carries substantial carbon emission burdens. Bioleaching is environmentally benign and cost-effective, but its prolonged processing time and stringent microbial cultivation conditions restrict its industrial scalability.
"Future breakthroughs in recycling technology lie in direct regeneration and emerging green technologies. For instance, direct structural repair of cathode materials via hydrothermal or electrochemical methods can bypass the cumbersome metal separation steps, enabling short-path, high-value material reutilization," said Shaoying Li, senior author of the review paper, Associate Professor at the College of Mining Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology. Concurrently, research on novel green solvents—such as ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents—has demonstrated considerable potential for achieving highly selective metal leaching under mild conditions. "Each technological route currently faces its own bottleneck," said Liucheng Zhao, another senior author of the review paper, Associate Professor at the College of Mining Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, "A single technology is unlikely to simultaneously balance efficiency, cost, and environmental performance. The recycling system of the future will inevitably be an integrated system featuring multi-technology synergy." Said Zhao. The article concludes that future SLIBs recycling should evolve towards green and low-carbon, systematic, and intelligent directions. By establishing a "digital passport" and carbon-footprint tracking system covering the entire battery life cycle, combined with policy and regulatory guidance, a truly sustainable closed-loop economic model—from "end-of-life" to "new life"—can be realized. This review provides a valuable decision-making reference for both academia and industry, charting the critical pathways for next-generation battery recycling technologies to transition from laboratory scale to large-scale commercialization.
About the Authors
Jianqiu Qin is a Master's candidate in the College of Mining Engineering at North China University of Science and Technology. He is co-advised by Associate Professor Shaoying Li and Associate Professor Liucheng Zhao. His current research focuses on efficient separation processes and theory for complex refractory minerals, as well as the comprehensive utilization of secondary resources. He has published more than 10 papers in domestic and international journals such as Materials Reports (Chinese), The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals (Chinese), Green and Smart Mining Engineering, and Minerals Engineering.
Shaoying Li received his MS degree from China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, and his PhD from the University of Science and Technology Beijing. He is currently an Associate Professor at the College of Mining Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology. His research interests lie in the efficient separation of complex refractory minerals and the comprehensive utilization of secondary resources.
Liucheng Zhao earned his PhD from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, where he completed a combined master's and doctoral program. He is currently an Associate Professor at the College of Mining Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on the efficient separation and comprehensive utilization of complex refractory minerals, the resource utilization of solid waste, and the value-added processing of non-metallic minerals.
About Materials Reports: Solidwaste and Ecomaterials
Materials Reports: Solidwaste and Ecomaterials (MRSE) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to the science and technology of solid waste treatment, resource recovery, and the development of eco-materials. The journal is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dongmin Wang (China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing), supported by Co-Editors-in-Chief Prof. Chi Sun Poon (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China), Prof. Hongzhi Cui (Shenzhen University, China), and Prof. Zuhua Zhang (Tongji University, China), and an international editorial board comprising 30 active researchers from 11 countries. Published by Tsinghua University Press on its SciOpen platform, MRSE is committed to becoming a leading publication in its field.
The journal welcomes original research, reviews, progress reports, and communications that advance the conversion of diverse solid wastes into non-hazardous, functional, and valuable materials. Notably, MRSE is waiving all Article Processing Charges (APCs) until the end of 2026 for submitted manuscripts.
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/MRSE.2026.9520029
