Environmental Concerns of Recycling Lithium Batteries

Everything in the battery when new is still contained in it when completely discharged. Incineration, pyrometallurgical and hydrolysis methods eliminate reactivity but in many situations ultimately generate a hazardous waste. This may be wastewater, sludge, bag house waste, or ash. 

Prior to the processing of any lithium battery for recycling, the battery s material safety data sheet should be reviewed, and, if necessary, a complete analysis should be performed to determine the waste products. Components and chemicals are unique to each manufacturer and not each type of lithium battery. Many are similar but none are identical. Compoimds that can cause serious concern if overlooked include chrome, arsenic, fluorine, mercury, organic solvents, asbestos, lithium, and others. At the end of this chapter are two typical battery analyses performed by Toxco Inc., exemplifying the 

Emissions from testing a 180 lb lithium primary battery arc similar to those from a landtltl fire or incineration of the batten.  

3) A review of the receiving log and hazardous waste manifest log (if applicable), 

SORTING, PACKAGING, STORAGE, AND TRANSPORTING OF LITfflUM BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING 

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