Resources Recycling (자원리싸이클링)

The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling (한국자원리싸이클링학회)
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Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Process

사용 후 리튬이온 배터리 재활용 공정의 전과정평가에 대한 고찰

  • Insung Hwang (Flexible Manufacturing R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Young-Min Kim (Flexible Manufacturing R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Yong Hwan Kim (Materials.Supply Chain R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Seungyun Han (Materials.Supply Chain R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)
  • 황인성 (한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소 유연생산연구부문) ;
  • 김영민 (한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소 유연생산연구부문) ;
  • 김용환 (한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소 소재공급망연구부문) ;
  • 한승연 (한국생산기술연구원 지능화뿌리기술연구소 소재공급망연구부문)
  • Received : 2024.08.20
  • Accepted : 2024.09.24
  • Published : 2024.10.31
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Abstract

With the rapid global rise in lithium-ion battery (LIB) usage, recycling spent LIBs has become a critical challenge. Conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) of recycling processes for spent LIBs is crucial for evaluating their environmental, economic, and social impacts comprehensively. However, in Korea, research on the LCA of waste LIB recycling processes remains limited. This study introduces various life-cycle assessment cases of waste LIB recycling, carried out by different researchers. The studies reviewed analyzed and compared multiple recycling technologies, including hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical, and direct recycling, and quantitatively evaluated factors such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the release of hazardous materials. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of each recycling process are compared from environmental and economic perspectives to propose optimal recycling strategies. This review aims to synthesize these diverse research findings to outline the current status of and future directions for LIB recycling processes, thereby providing foundational data for further research and policy development.

최근 전 세계적으로 리튬이온 배터리(lithium-ion battery, LIB)의 사용이 급증함에 따라, 폐 LIB의 재활용이 필수적인 과제로 떠오르고 있다. 폐 LIB의 재활용 공정에 대한 전과정평가(Life cycle assessment, LCA)는 환경적, 경제적, 사회적 영향을 종합적으로 평가하는데 중요한 역할을 한다. 하지만 국내에서는 폐 LIB 재활용 공정의 LCA에 대한 연구가 활성화 되어 있지 않다. 본 논문은 다양한 연구자들이 수행한 폐 LIB 재활용 공정의 전과정평가 사례를 소개하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 고찰한 연구들은 다양한 재활용 기술(습식제련 공정, 건식제련 공정, 직접 재활용 공정)을 비교 분석하고 있으며, 각 공정의 에너지 소비, 온실가스 배출, 유해 물질의 배출 등을 정량적으로 평가하였다. 또한, 각 재활용 공정의 장단점을 환경적, 경제적 관점에서 비교하여 최적의 재활용 전략을 제시하였다. 본 논문은 이러한 다양한 연구 결과를 종합하여 LIB 재활용 공정의 현재와 미래 방향성을 제시하고자 하며, 향후 연구와 정책 개발에 기초 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 환경부 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원 이차전지 순환이용성 향상 기술개발사업(이차전지 재활용 공정 발생 오염물질 저감 기술개발) 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임(과제번호: RS-2024-00345911).

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