Partner contribution: Rockwell Automation, Expert contribution: Dominique Scheider
The lifecycle of a battery: Recycling and Sustainability | Rockwell Automation
PlantPAx Distributed Control System | Rockwell Automation
In today’s fast-paced world, the urgency of environmental sustainability and the imperative to transition towards a circular economy have never been more pronounced. With the increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints, minimize resource extraction, and curb waste generation, industries worldwide are facing a paradigm shift.
At the forefront of this transformation is the battery manufacturing sector, which plays a crucial role in powering modern technology while grappling with the environmental impact of its global supply chain as well as end-of-life disposal. However, amidst the challenges lie opportunities for innovation, particularly in the realm of battery recycling.
The push for sustainability and circularity has catalyzed a transformation in the battery industry, driving the adoption of practices that prioritize the reuse of materials and the reduction of waste. Key drivers such as the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, concerns about the global capacity for lithium, and tightening government regulations are exerting significant pressure on battery manufacturers to overhaul their processes. As a result, the reuse and recycling of batteries have become essential, well-established steps of the industry’s operations.
One of the primary challenges facing battery recycling is the need to scale up from low-volume, labor-intensive processes to mass-scale, highly automated operations. This transition requires significant investment in infrastructure and technology but promises substantial benefits in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact. As battery manufacturers navigate this transition, they must confront various complexities inherent in the recycling process.
The journey of battery recycling typically begins with the disassembly of battery packs, a critical step in preparing them for recycling. Today, battery packs are increasingly being fully deactivated or discharged before disassembly, a practice aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency. Disassembly can occur at either the module or cell level, with some processes allowing for recycling at the pack level once electronic components have been removed.
Following disassembly, batteries are subjected to shredding, a process that breaks them down into smaller components for further processing. Depending on their state of charge, batteries may undergo wet or dry shredding, with wet shredding often employed for fully or partially charged batteries to mitigate thermal events. The shredded material is then subjected to a series of separation techniques, including sieving and screening, to isolate valuable materials such as plastics, ferrous, and non-ferrous metals.
The resulting shredded material, known as “black mass,” contains the minerals of interest, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for the production of new batteries. Extracting these materials from the black mass requires specialized recycling methods, each with its own set of advantages and challenges.
Pyrometallurgy, for instance, involves heat-based extraction and purification processes that can recover cobalt and nickel but leave other materials as slag.
In contrast, hydrometallurgy employs water-based processes to dissolve metals and extract them as salts, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative but requiring careful management of waste streams.
Direct recycling, on the other hand, mechanically separates battery components without altering the chemical structure of the active materials, resulting in black mass ideal for recovery and reuse.
Despite the progress made in battery recycling and the above-mentioned processes, significant challenges persist, particularly in the realm of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. Evolving regulations and reporting standards pose hurdles for battery manufacturers, making it difficult for them to define, measure, and achieve their sustainability goals. Moreover, concerns about energy consumption, water usage, waste management, and labor rights loom large in the context of battery recycling.
In response to these challenges, industry stakeholders are increasingly turning to automation and digitalization to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance.
Rockwell Automation is at the forefront of this revolution, offering solutions that maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impact. PlantPAx® 5.0 distributed control system (DCS), for instance, introduces process functionality native to controllers, enhances cybersecurity, and improves system availability, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of traditional DCS systems. This platform has been successfully used for large battery recycling units and is deployed globally.

Looking ahead, like for industrial processes in general, the future of battery recycling lies in intelligent automation, sustainable practices, and collaborative efforts across industries and alongside value chains. By leveraging technology, innovation, and strategic partnerships, we can pave the way for a greener, more efficient, and socially responsible battery recycling ecosystem. Together, we can revolutionize battery recycling and build a brighter future for generations to come.
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