On February 6, the research team led by Professor Chen Wei, from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) unveiled an innovative green and sustainable waste recycling strategy based on electrochemical principles.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
On February 6, the research team led by Professor Chen Wei, from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) unveiled an innovative green and sustainable waste recycling strategy based on electrochemical principles. This groundbreaking approach not only allows for the recovery of lithium resources from the cathode materials of used lithium-ion batteries, but also captures and converts nitrogen oxides from industrial exhaust gases. The research findings were recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability.
The research team explained that they have developed a no-energy consumption recycling method. This technique successfully recovers lithium from used battery cathodes and converts nitrogen dioxide into high-value lithium nitrate salts. Additionally, the process generates substantial energy output, offering an efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable solution for both lithium recovery and pollutant treatment.
Furthermore, the team conducted a detailed comparison between their new recycling strategy and traditional methods, analyzing factors such as energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and cost-effectiveness. A comprehensive evaluation showed that the proposed method outperforms existing recycling strategies in energy efficiency and carbon emissions, highlighting its significant advantage in terms of both sustainability and economic benefits. The team’s cost-benefit analysis also confirms that their approach is more economically advantageous than conventional recycling techniques.