With the rapid development of the new energy industry, waste lithium batteries have become a valuable “urban mine” rather than simply industrial solid waste. Among the recyclable materials, copper—a key component used in anode current collectors—is stable, highly recyclable, and high-purity, making it one of the most cost-effective metals in lithium battery resource utilization.
Copper is widely found in the copper foil and tabs of lithium battery anodes, accounting for a considerable proportion of battery weight. Thanks to its stable physical and chemical properties, high-purity and high-recovery-rate regeneration can be achieved through standardized processes, including crushing, pyrolysis, and physical separation. Compared with the mining and smelting of primary copper, recycled copper consumes less energy and produces lower emissions, supporting low-carbon and circular development.
Based on mature physical separation and refined processing technologies, copper from waste lithium batteries can be efficiently separated and purified. The recovered copper powder and copper granules can be directly reused in copper processing, electronic manufacturing, new battery production, and other industries, forming a stable resource cycle. This not only reduces raw material costs but also provides reliable economic support for waste battery treatment, making the recycling system more sustainable and practical.
From environmental compliance to resource value-added, from hazardous waste disposal to high-value regeneration, copper recovery from waste lithium batteries is practically and efficiently supporting the sustainable development of the new energy industry.
