Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective
[Objective] Resource recycling of end-of-life battery cathode materials has carbon emission reduction potential, but existing studies show significant deviations in emission reduction calculations due to unclear accounting boundaries. This study develops an improved accounting method for carbon emis...
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Science Press, PR China
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Ziyuan Kexue |
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| Online Access: | https://www.resci.cn/fileup/1007-7588/PDF/1750127176424-1392993888.pdf |
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| author | TIAN Xi, MA Qingyuan, XIE Jinliang, HU Zhikang, XU Ming, PENG Fei, PENG Aiping |
| author_facet | TIAN Xi, MA Qingyuan, XIE Jinliang, HU Zhikang, XU Ming, PENG Fei, PENG Aiping |
| author_sort | TIAN Xi, MA Qingyuan, XIE Jinliang, HU Zhikang, XU Ming, PENG Fei, PENG Aiping |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | [Objective] Resource recycling of end-of-life battery cathode materials has carbon emission reduction potential, but existing studies show significant deviations in emission reduction calculations due to unclear accounting boundaries. This study develops an improved accounting method for carbon emission reduction from the perspective of multiple-life-cycle resource cycling. [Methods] Using virgin material substitution as the baseline scenario, the energy consumption and auxiliary material emissions during resource utilization were incorporated. The method emphasized that recycling only delayed rather than avoided carbon emissions from final disposal, thus excluding final disposal from accounting boundaries. The carbon emission reduction from recycling 1 ton of cathode materials was quantified through four recycling processes for lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium batteries. [Results] (1) Compared with scenarios of “virgin material substitution combined with incineration disposal” and “virgin material substitution combined with landfill disposal”， the carbon emission reductions from recycling processes decreased by 0.80 t CO<sub>2</sub> eq and 7.96 t CO<sub>2</sub> eq, respectively, when “virgin material substitution” was adopted as the baseline. This indicated that including final disposal (landfill or incineration) in the baseline scenario substantially overestimated carbon emission reduction benefits. (2) Both the slurry acid leaching process for lithium iron phosphate and the acid leaching-extraction process for ternary lithium batteries demonstrated carbon reduction benefits. Notably, the ternary lithium batteries achieved carbon emission reductions 10 times higher than those of lithium iron phosphate due to recoverable high-value metals like nickel and cobalt. (3) The calcination-acid leaching process resulted in a higher carbon footprint for the recycled materials than that of virgin materials owing to the substantial emissions from auxiliary material (e.g., citric acid) production. [Conclusion] In summary, the baseline scenario selected in this accounting method aligns more closely with current production realities domestically and internationally, facilitating the establishment of consistent standards for comparing resource recycling technologies within the industry. Furthermore, through analysis of the calculation results, “high-carbon” processes and the corresponding sensitive factors can be identified to guide process improvement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a0aacf6ed2bf4d4ca20311682136d58c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1007-7588 |
| language | zho |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Science Press, PR China |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ziyuan Kexue |
| spelling | doaj-art-a0aacf6ed2bf4d4ca20311682136d58c2025-08-20T02:07:12ZzhoScience Press, PR ChinaZiyuan Kexue1007-75882025-05-0147597798910.18402/resci.2025.05.06Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspectiveTIAN Xi, MA Qingyuan, XIE Jinliang, HU Zhikang, XU Ming, PENG Fei, PENG Aiping01. Research Center for Central China Economic and Social Development, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China;2. School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China;3. Engineering Research Center of Watershed Carbon Neutralization of Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China;4. School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China;5. Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd., Xinyu 336600, China[Objective] Resource recycling of end-of-life battery cathode materials has carbon emission reduction potential, but existing studies show significant deviations in emission reduction calculations due to unclear accounting boundaries. This study develops an improved accounting method for carbon emission reduction from the perspective of multiple-life-cycle resource cycling. [Methods] Using virgin material substitution as the baseline scenario, the energy consumption and auxiliary material emissions during resource utilization were incorporated. The method emphasized that recycling only delayed rather than avoided carbon emissions from final disposal, thus excluding final disposal from accounting boundaries. The carbon emission reduction from recycling 1 ton of cathode materials was quantified through four recycling processes for lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium batteries. [Results] (1) Compared with scenarios of “virgin material substitution combined with incineration disposal” and “virgin material substitution combined with landfill disposal”， the carbon emission reductions from recycling processes decreased by 0.80 t CO<sub>2</sub> eq and 7.96 t CO<sub>2</sub> eq, respectively, when “virgin material substitution” was adopted as the baseline. This indicated that including final disposal (landfill or incineration) in the baseline scenario substantially overestimated carbon emission reduction benefits. (2) Both the slurry acid leaching process for lithium iron phosphate and the acid leaching-extraction process for ternary lithium batteries demonstrated carbon reduction benefits. Notably, the ternary lithium batteries achieved carbon emission reductions 10 times higher than those of lithium iron phosphate due to recoverable high-value metals like nickel and cobalt. (3) The calcination-acid leaching process resulted in a higher carbon footprint for the recycled materials than that of virgin materials owing to the substantial emissions from auxiliary material (e.g., citric acid) production. [Conclusion] In summary, the baseline scenario selected in this accounting method aligns more closely with current production realities domestically and internationally, facilitating the establishment of consistent standards for comparing resource recycling technologies within the industry. Furthermore, through analysis of the calculation results, “high-carbon” processes and the corresponding sensitive factors can be identified to guide process improvement.https://www.resci.cn/fileup/1007-7588/PDF/1750127176424-1392993888.pdfend-of-life lithium power batteries|carbon emission reduction|life cycle assessment|resource recovery|cathode materials |
| spellingShingle | TIAN Xi, MA Qingyuan, XIE Jinliang, HU Zhikang, XU Ming, PENG Fei, PENG Aiping Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective Ziyuan Kexue end-of-life lithium power batteries|carbon emission reduction|life cycle assessment|resource recovery|cathode materials |
| title | Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective |
| title_full | Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective |
| title_fullStr | Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective |
| title_short | Carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple-life-cycle perspective |
| title_sort | carbon emission reduction accounting in cathode material recycling of power batteries from a multiple life cycle perspective |
| topic | end-of-life lithium power batteries|carbon emission reduction|life cycle assessment|resource recovery|cathode materials |
| url | https://www.resci.cn/fileup/1007-7588/PDF/1750127176424-1392993888.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tianximaqingyuanxiejinlianghuzhikangxumingpengfeipengaiping carbonemissionreductionaccountingincathodematerialrecyclingofpowerbatteriesfromamultiplelifecycleperspective |