Circular Recycling Strategies for LFP Batteries: A Review Focusing on Hydrometallurgy Sustainable Processing

The exponential growth of electric and hybrid vehicles in the last five years forecasts a waste problem when their batteries achieve end-of-life. Li-ion for have been assembled using materials from natural resources (as Li, Fe, Al, Cu Co, Mn P). Among them, LiFePO4 cathode demonstrated advantages such as charge–discharge cycles, thermal stability, surface area raw availability (against Ni Co systems). Due to performance, LFP stand out heavy duty fleet, achieving 90% new energy buses China. To circular economy, recycling may be carried by pyrometallurgy (thermal processing), hydrometallurgy (aqueous processing) or both combination. Comparatively, hydrometallurgical processing is more advantageous due its low consumption CO2 emissions. In addition, Li recovered high-pure grade. This work literature review current alternatives hydrometallurgy, comparing designed processes indicating solutions towards economy. major steps routes pre-treatments, leaching purification will gathered discussed terms efficiency environmental impact.