Precious metal recycling in lithium‐ion batteries: Research progress from pretreatment to multipathway recovery strategies

Abstract The growing demand for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) has intensified the need for sustainable lithium sources, as natural reserves struggle to meet global requirements. Spent LIBs (S‐LIBs), rich in Li, present a promising alternative for Li extraction, providing both environmental and economic benefits. Given the research progress in this field, it is of great significance to systematically sort out the S‐LIB recycling technology system in a timely manner. This review systematically summarizes the latest research findings and technological advancements in the field of S‐LIB recycling in recent years. Firstly, it conducts an in‐depth analysis of the pretreatment system in the recycling process, including core links such as the safe discharge, disassembly, and precise separation of S‐LIBs. By horizontally comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment methods in terms of efficiency, energy consumption, and environmental friendliness, targeted suggestions for optimization schemes are put forward. Subsequently, it focuses on the five mainstream processes, namely pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, biological methods, electrochemistry, and direct regeneration. Detailed characteristic descriptions are carried out from three dimensions: core reaction mechanism, key operating technical parameters, and final product purity. On the basis of clarifying the limitations of the existing technical framework and integrating the performance comparison of various methods, this review further conducts a critical discussion on the application advantages, practical challenges, and future research directions of each technology in the recycling process. This not only provides clear insights for subsequent researchers but also offers a unique perspective for promoting the construction of a sustainable S‐LIB recycling system.