With the rapid development of new energy, a large number of lithium batteries have reached their end-of-life stage. Safe discharge of waste lithium batteries has become an indispensable pre-treatment process in recycling, serving as both a safety barrier and an environmental prerequisite.
Even when waste lithium batteries can no longer power devices normally, they still retain residual electricity. Direct disassembly, transportation or crushing may easily cause short circuits, overheating or even explosions. Meanwhile, residual power can damage electrode materials and reduce the recovery purity of valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. Scientific discharge stabilizes the residual power, eliminates potential hazards, and lays a solid foundation for subsequent resource utilization.
At present, the industry mainly adopts two compliant methods: resistor-based physical discharge and saltwater immersion chemical discharge. Resistor discharge consumes power evenly through professional load equipment, suitable for intact cells with uniform discharge and no high temperature. Saltwater immersion is applicable to damaged or aged batteries, slowly neutralizing power in a ventilated environment with simple operation and low risk. Both methods strictly follow safety standards to reduce battery voltage to a safe level without producing harmful substances, balancing efficiency and environmental protection.
Discharge is not simply power consumption, but a standardized and professional procedure. Proper safe discharge of waste lithium batteries prevents safety accidents, improves resource recovery efficiency, and promotes a green closed-loop for the new energy industry. Adhering to scientific discharge standards ensures that every retired lithium battery can be safely processed and efficiently recycled — a commitment to environmental protection and sustainable industrial development.
