Recycling and reuse of lithium iron phosphate battery multi-component and sustainability assessment: A review

The escalating accumulation of spent lithium iron phosphate (SLFP) batteries necessitated efficient recycling strategies to mitigate environmental impact and conserve resources. Existing reviews explored various recovery techniques without providing a systematic analysis of the complete recycling chain. This review provided a comprehensive overview of existing and emerging recycling technologies: (i) pretreatment protocols and diverse recycling methodologies for LFP cathodes; (ii) the often-overlooked yet crucial aspects of SLFP applications in other sectors, the value-added utilization of iron phosphate slag following lithium extraction, and the regeneration and repurposing of waste graphite anodes; (iii) furthermore, a comparative sustainability perspective, drawing upon reported environmental and economic analyses, integrated to evaluate different LFP cathode recycling pathways. The objective was to provide actionable insights for optimizing the complete and synergistic recycling of SLFP batteries, thereby facilitating their efficient reuse and fostering a truly green and sustainable trajectory for the lithium-ion battery industry.