Recent Progress in Pyrometallurgy for the Recovery of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Review of State-of-the-Art Developments

Pyrometallurgy is a well-known method for the efficient recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This work provides an overview of the key aspects and recent advancements in pyrometallurgical processes for LIBs recycling. The newly developed pyrometallurgical processes have the potential to be energy-efficient, especially when utilizing microwave technologies. Despite encountering certain challenges and limitations, the prospects for recovering LIBs through pyrometallurgy appear promising, especially considering the anticipated rise in the number of spent LIBs for recycling.