Recycling lithium batteries: a two-stage approach

When we think of recycling, we often think of the simple separation of waste materials to recover their raw materials. However, there is another, equally important form of recycling, which involves reusing products to give them a second life. This is the approach we take at Pro Lithium to battery processing.
Our process begins as soon as we receive the batteries, with a complete diagnostic. This diagnosis is essential because it enables us to determine the most appropriate type of recycling: reuse or metal recycling.

Recovery and reuse: the second life of batteries
A battery is made up of several modules, themselves made up of cells (the “cells” of a battery). Diagnostics enable us to assess the condition of these components.
If the diagnosis is positive, we recover the modules or cells for reuse in new applications. For example, vehicle battery modules can be reused in storage systems for solar panels, garden lights or even street lighting.
Contrary to popular belief, reconditioned batteries do not have a limited lifespan. Each cell is carefully rebalanced with the others thanks to a technical process, enabling them to be fully functional for many years of service.

Metal recycling: recovering the raw material
If the diagnosis reveals that the battery cannot be reused, it is sent for metal recycling. To do this, we recover the various valuable materials it contains, such as plastic, copper,aluminum and cobalt.
These materials are then resold for reuse in the manufacture of new products, thus contributing to the circular economy and the preservation of natural resources.