Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach

Diana Arellano Sanchez; Marja Rinne; Benjamin P. Wilson; Mari Lundström

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058

Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach

Diana Arellano Sanchez
, Marja Rinne
, Benjamin P. Wilson
, Mari Lundström^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

219 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have been under intensive research due to their stability, safety, and rapid charging characteristics. Nevertheless, uncertainties as to LTO-batteries behavior when used as a raw material in battery recycling still exist. This study provides a grave-to-gate life cycle inventory for a hydrometallurgical battery recycling process in which Li-battery waste materials nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), LTO, and graphite were used as feed. The simulation showed that NMC cathode materials and lithium from both battery waste fractions could be recovered. In contrast, the titanium present within LTO cannot be recovered by the recycling process. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process demonstrated clear benefits of recycling battery materials, highlighted by the decrease in global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion potential. Additionally, two routes for hazardous waste management were simulated to ascertain the environmental impacts of hazardous waste management within the recycling process.

Original language	English
Article number	108058
Number of pages	10
Journal	Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume	215
Early online date	5 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058
Publication status	Published - Apr 2025
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

his study was undertaken as part of the HELIOS Project that received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No: 963646). Additionally, the authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the School of Chemical Engineering at Aalto University and would also like to thank Heini Elomaa and Jere Partinen for their valuable discussions and suggestions.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Battery recycling
Battery waste
Flowsheet modeling
LCA (life cycle assessment)
Lithium titanate
Process development
Sustainability

Access to Document

10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058Licence: CC BY

CHEM_Arellano-Sanchez_et_al_Life_cycle_2024_Resources_Conservation_and_RecyclingFinal published version, 1.26 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{5a47386fdee04cfe82000a0b45b905fa,

title = "Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach",

abstract = "Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have been under intensive research due to their stability, safety, and rapid charging characteristics. Nevertheless, uncertainties as to LTO-batteries behavior when used as a raw material in battery recycling still exist. This study provides a grave-to-gate life cycle inventory for a hydrometallurgical battery recycling process in which Li-battery waste materials nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), LTO, and graphite were used as feed. The simulation showed that NMC cathode materials and lithium from both battery waste fractions could be recovered. In contrast, the titanium present within LTO cannot be recovered by the recycling process. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process demonstrated clear benefits of recycling battery materials, highlighted by the decrease in global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion potential. Additionally, two routes for hazardous waste management were simulated to ascertain the environmental impacts of hazardous waste management within the recycling process.",

keywords = "Battery recycling, Battery waste, Flowsheet modeling, LCA (life cycle assessment), Lithium titanate, Process development, Sustainability",

author = "\{Arellano Sanchez\}, Diana and Marja Rinne and Wilson, \{Benjamin P.\} and Mari Lundstr{\"o}m",

note = "| openaire: EC/H2020/963646/EU//HELIOS",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058",

language = "English",

volume = "215",

journal = "Resources, Conservation and Recycling",

issn = "0921-3449",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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T1 - Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach

AU - Arellano Sanchez, Diana

AU - Rinne, Marja

AU - Wilson, Benjamin P.

AU - Lundström, Mari

N1 - | openaire: EC/H2020/963646/EU//HELIOS

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have been under intensive research due to their stability, safety, and rapid charging characteristics. Nevertheless, uncertainties as to LTO-batteries behavior when used as a raw material in battery recycling still exist. This study provides a grave-to-gate life cycle inventory for a hydrometallurgical battery recycling process in which Li-battery waste materials nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), LTO, and graphite were used as feed. The simulation showed that NMC cathode materials and lithium from both battery waste fractions could be recovered. In contrast, the titanium present within LTO cannot be recovered by the recycling process. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process demonstrated clear benefits of recycling battery materials, highlighted by the decrease in global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion potential. Additionally, two routes for hazardous waste management were simulated to ascertain the environmental impacts of hazardous waste management within the recycling process.

AB - Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have been under intensive research due to their stability, safety, and rapid charging characteristics. Nevertheless, uncertainties as to LTO-batteries behavior when used as a raw material in battery recycling still exist. This study provides a grave-to-gate life cycle inventory for a hydrometallurgical battery recycling process in which Li-battery waste materials nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), LTO, and graphite were used as feed. The simulation showed that NMC cathode materials and lithium from both battery waste fractions could be recovered. In contrast, the titanium present within LTO cannot be recovered by the recycling process. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process demonstrated clear benefits of recycling battery materials, highlighted by the decrease in global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion potential. Additionally, two routes for hazardous waste management were simulated to ascertain the environmental impacts of hazardous waste management within the recycling process.

KW - Battery recycling

KW - Battery waste

KW - Flowsheet modeling

KW - LCA (life cycle assessment)

KW - Lithium titanate

KW - Process development

KW - Sustainability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85211017737

U2 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058

DO - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108058

M3 - Article

SN - 0921-3449

VL - 215

JO - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

JF - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

M1 - 108058

ER -

Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Supplementary Material: Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach, Diana Arellano, Marja Rinne, Benjamin P. Wilson, Mari Lundström

HELIOS: High-pErformance moduLar battery packs for a wIde range Of EVS

Recycling of batteries: Environmental and Circular Aspects

Life cycle assessment of enhanced materials recovery from LTO-rich anode waste recycling via froth flotation

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of a Battery Recycling Process with Organic Modeling

A study on recovery strategies of graphite from mixed lithium-ion battery chemistries using froth flotation

Cite this

Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Datasets

Supplementary Material: Life cycle assessment of LTO-rich anode waste from lithium-ion battery with a hazardous waste management approach, Diana Arellano, Marja Rinne, Benjamin P. Wilson, Mari Lundström

Projects

HELIOS: High-pErformance moduLar battery packs for a wIde range Of EVS

Activities

Recycling of batteries: Environmental and Circular Aspects

Research output

Life cycle assessment of enhanced materials recovery from LTO-rich anode waste recycling via froth flotation

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of a Battery Recycling Process with Organic Modeling

A study on recovery strategies of graphite from mixed lithium-ion battery chemistries using froth flotation

Cite this