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Abstract(s)
As baterias de lítio fazem parte do quotidiano de qualquer cidadão há cerca de 30 anos, apesar de que o seu potencial tenha sido identificado no início do século XX. Estando presente numa variedade de dispositivos, que vão desde pequenos eletrodomésticos até carros elétricos e híbridos, o lítio é um elemento essencial nas mais recentes tecnologias aplicadas a baterias. Na necessidade de mudança do hábito de usar combustíveis fosseis, a aplicação de lítio promete oferecer uma forma mais sustentável de lidar com o fornecimento de energia ao tornar dispositivos de armazenamento mais eficientes. O recurso ao lítio carrega consigo o fardo de tecnologias em baterias mais antigas, uma vez que a maioria dos materiais aplicados são bem conhecidos na indústria. Pouco foi feito na produção das baterias de lítio desde que se tornou uma indústria, comprometendo assim os benefícios ambientais no uso desta tecnologia. O consumo crescente esforça a extração de lítio e outros metais raros, com uma taxa de reciclagem ainda demasiado baixa para que esta indústria seja considerada uma economia circular. Para além dos indicadores ambientais quantificáveis, muitos outros intangíveis oferecem uma perspetiva de benefícios e desvantagens nesta indústria emergente. Neste estudo, irá ser analisado o ciclo de vida de dispositivos de armazenamento de energia à base de lítio, desde a sua extração, transformação e reciclagem. Com recurso a vários estudos publicados na última década, foi possível identificar com clareza as diversas variáveis afetas ao ciclo de vida do lítio, que podem imediatamente reduzir a pegada ambiental desta tecnologia promissora. Para além das melhorias imediatas, a reciclagem provou ser uma forma altamente eficiente na recolha e reuso de enormes quantidades de lítio, e outros materiais na produção de baterias. Para além do lítio, é necessário um esforço significativo para melhorar a extração de outros materiais usados numa bateria.
Lithium batteries have been part of any citizen daily life for about 30 years, although the knowledge about their potential dates to the early XX century. Being present in a wide range of application, since small electronic appliances to hybrid or electric cars, lithium became an essential element to the most recent battery technology. In the need of changing the harmful habits of fossil fuel usage, lithium applications promise to provide a more sustainable way to deal with energy supply and improve energy storage devices efficiency. Resorting to lithium carries the environmental burden of past battery technology, since the crushing majority of materials used are well-known in the industry. Little changes have been made in lithium batteries manufacturing since it first became an industry, compromising its potential environmental benefits. The growing consumption drives efforts to lithium and other scarce metals extraction, but recycling rates are still too low for this industry to be considered a circular economy. Besides the quantifiable environmental indicators, many other intangible ones offer an insight of the drawbacks and benefits of this emerging industry. In this study, the lifecycle of lithium-based energy storage devices, since its extraction, processing, and recycling is put into perspective. Resorting to many studies published in the last decade, it was possible to clearly identify many process variables in the lithium lifecycle, whose can immediately reduce the environmental footprint of this promising technology. Besides immediate improvements, recycling is proven to be a highly efficient way to recover and reuse enormous amounts of lithium, and other materials in battery manufacturing. Beyond the lithium usage, a significant effort should be made to improve the supply of the remaining materials in a battery.
Lithium batteries have been part of any citizen daily life for about 30 years, although the knowledge about their potential dates to the early XX century. Being present in a wide range of application, since small electronic appliances to hybrid or electric cars, lithium became an essential element to the most recent battery technology. In the need of changing the harmful habits of fossil fuel usage, lithium applications promise to provide a more sustainable way to deal with energy supply and improve energy storage devices efficiency. Resorting to lithium carries the environmental burden of past battery technology, since the crushing majority of materials used are well-known in the industry. Little changes have been made in lithium batteries manufacturing since it first became an industry, compromising its potential environmental benefits. The growing consumption drives efforts to lithium and other scarce metals extraction, but recycling rates are still too low for this industry to be considered a circular economy. Besides the quantifiable environmental indicators, many other intangible ones offer an insight of the drawbacks and benefits of this emerging industry. In this study, the lifecycle of lithium-based energy storage devices, since its extraction, processing, and recycling is put into perspective. Resorting to many studies published in the last decade, it was possible to clearly identify many process variables in the lithium lifecycle, whose can immediately reduce the environmental footprint of this promising technology. Besides immediate improvements, recycling is proven to be a highly efficient way to recover and reuse enormous amounts of lithium, and other materials in battery manufacturing. Beyond the lithium usage, a significant effort should be made to improve the supply of the remaining materials in a battery.
Description
Keywords
Lítio Sustentabilidade Extração Reciclagem Produção de baterias Ciclo de vida Lithium Sustainability Extraction Recycling Battery manufacturing Life cycle