Towards Sustainable Pretreatment of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Through Techno–Environmental–Economic Assessment

This thesis investigates how used lithium-ion batteries can be better pretreated for recycling. It develops detailed models of different pretreatment routes, mechanical, thermal, and chemical, to measure their environmental and economic impacts. The study shows that this pretreatment stage of recycling causes major material losses and half of the total environmental burden. It identifies the best pretreatment routes for different battery types and regions, which could reduce environmental damage and increase profits. These findings help improve recycling systems, support better policies, and contribute to sustainable development goals.