Japan is aggressively accelerating the development of lithium-ion battery recycling technologies to bolster resource security and reduce its heavy reliance on foreign mineral imports. 

Lacking significant domestic mining operations, the country currently imports nearly all its essential raw materials, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, making the establishment of a “circular economy” a national priority.

JX Metals Circular Solutions, a subsidiary of JX Advanced Metals, recently announced a major technological breakthrough at its plant in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The company has successfully increased the recovery rate of lithium from end-of-life batteries to 90%, a significant jump from previous rates of less than 50%.

This achievement is being hailed as the highest recycling rate in the world. Crucially, the Tsuruga facility has already transitioned to full-scale operations, proving that the high-yield technology is viable at a commercial industrial level.

The recycling process begins by dismantling spent battery packs and subjecting them to a heating process to eliminate non-metallic components. The remaining material is then ground into a fine “black mass” powder, which is rich in precious metals.

To extract the lithium, the firm employs a hydrometallurgical process, a chemical extraction method using liquid solutions. This allows the lithium to be recovered as lithium hydroxide, a high-grade material that can be immediately reintegrated into the production of new batteries.

Environmental benefits are a key driver of this shift. According to the company, this closed-loop chemical extraction method reduces carbon emissions by approximately 40% compared to traditional refining and smelting processes.

This technological milestone provides a substantial boost to Japan’s economic and resource security. The Japanese government had previously set a target to recycle 70% of the nation’s lithium by 2030; the new 90% recovery rate effectively bypasses that goal years ahead of schedule.

The breakthrough also aligns with recent legislative changes in Japan that mandate the collection of batteries from electronic devices for recycling purposes. 

A significant problem remains in the collection infrastructure. Currently, only 14% of used batteries are successfully funneled into official domestic recycling channels.

A large volume of batteries, particularly those from second-hand electric vehicles, are being exported to overseas markets. This “resource leakage” results in the loss of vast quantities of valuable materials that Japan desperately needs to maintain its industrial edge in the green energy transition.

Source: techspot, yahoo tech, JX Metals Circular Solutions, Platform X