A Systematic Review on Lithium-Ion Battery Disassembly Processes for Efficient Recycling

Recycling plays a crucial role in achieving a sustainable production chain for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as it reduces the demand for primary mineral resources and mitigates environmental pollution caused by improper disposal. Disassembly of the LIBs is typically the preliminary step preceding chemical recovery operations, facilitating early separation of components consisting of different materials. Despite that extensive research has been conducted on the chemical processes involved in the recycling of LIBs, systematic studies on disassembly processes in the recycling process are relatively scarce. In this research, a systematic review was conducted on the publications from major databases, such as Scopus, SpringerLink, and others, to explore the current state of disassembly processes in LIBs’ recycling. The results emphasize disassembly as a crucial process for achieving a high material separation rate and ensuring a high degree of purity of the recycled active material. Moreover, automated disassembly can significantly raise productivity and reduce disassembly costs. Thus, it improves disassembly efficiency and increases economic as well as environmental benefits. Most researchers have focused on disassembly at the pack or module level. Investigation into extending the disassembly depth from cell to individual components is limited, particularly in automated approaches. Therefore, further research is highly recommended to explore the feasibility and potential of novel automated disassembly procedures at the cell level. This can contribute to improving the efficiency and sustainability of the recycling process for LIBs.