Lithium batteries - found in electric cars, computers or smartphones - were initially considered in a desire to produce greener energy.
However, their recycling poses a problem.
And, if no solution is found, we could very quickly end up with a catastrophic situation, given the exponential number of these batteries in our devices.
A new recycling technique
Fortunately, researchers at the ReCell Center (United States), a recycling research center, recently envisioned a new method to give these batteries a second life using a “foam flotation” technique. The principle is to immerse them in water in order to separate the hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements. In this way, it is possible to recycle certain parts of the batteries while preserving almost all of their performance. This method is used in particular in the mining industry to purify ores. But the main disadvantage of this technique is that it consumes a lot of water.
This innovation could have a very important influence on large-scale recycling methods.
By simplifying recycling and making it less expensive, the result will be a decrease in the price of devices powered by these recycled batteries, which is beneficial for everyone.
Researchers still have some work to do to come up with a fully cost-effective and efficient solution, but this trial is encouraging for the future.
An alternative should also be found to use less water, so that this option remains attractive from an environmental point of view.
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