Environmental Impact of the Recycling of Ni-Co-Containing Saggars—A LCA Case Study in China

Zehong Li, Zhenhua Sun, Wenbiao Zhang () and Shaopeng Li ()
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Zehong Li: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Zhenhua Sun: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
Wenbiao Zhang: Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, 33 North Fourth Ring Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Shaopeng Li: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Scrapped saggars, used for the calcination of the cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries, contain large amounts of nickel, cobalt and manganese compounds, which have high economic value and significance to the ecological environment if recycled. This paper uses the life cycle assessment method to evaluate the environmental impact of the recycling process, compares its impact intensity with that of the direct disposal of Ni-Co-containing saggars and the production of corresponding products with alternative processes, and then compares the impact of each process. Sensitivity analysis of each material input and output item is carried out to find whether the input or output item that has a greater impact on the environment. The results show the following: (1) the environmental impact of the recovery of Ni-Co-containing saggars is much lower than that of equivalent products produced by alternative production methods, and the weighted person equivalent is only 14.5% of the alternative process; (2) from the perspective of processes, the crystallization and leaching processes demonstrate the greatest impact; and (3) among all input and output items, the sulfuric acid input in the reduction and leaching process, the potassium carbonate and steam input in the crystallization process, the potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide input in the cascade separation process, and the ammonia input in the purification process are the items with the greatest environmental impact, accounting for 86.05% of the overall environmental impact sensitivity and becoming the focus of future process improvement.

Keywords: Ni-Co-containing saggars; eco-efficiency; life cycle assessment; recycling industry; metal recycling; environmental pollution; heavy metals; health hazards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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