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Um dos grandes desafios do século XXI é, sem dúvida alguma, a produção e o armazenamento de energia. Com uma imensa variedade de aplicações em várias indústrias, o lítio é um metal cujo consumo tem vindo a crescer à escala global muito rapidamente. Há muito que este é utilizado em equipamentos eletrónicos portáteis, embora em Portugal, seja a indústria da cerâmica quem o utiliza, não tendo o lítio aplicação direta no fabrico de baterias. De acordo com o U.S. Geological Survey, Portugal detém a maior reserva de lítio a nível europeu, razão pela qual muitos pedidos de prospeção e pesquisa tenham sido feitos nos últimos tempos para extração deste minério, causando bastante controvérsia e mediatismo. Sendo o uso de lítio neste tipo de compostos aclamado por diversas partes, a questão da sua mineração é amplamente criticada por outras. Se o lítio é visto com uma das tecnologias para o combate às alterações climáticas e para uma melhoria na eficiência energética, é uma inconsistência que a sua prospeção e exploração estejam associadas a práticas ambientais pouco desejáveis. As baterias de iões de lítio são os sistemas de armazenamento de energia eletroquímica preferidos, por terem uma ampla aplicabilidade. O presente estudo é dedicado à análise do ciclo de vida do Lítio em aplicações para o armazenamento de energia, dando-se um enfoque especial a todo o seu ciclo de vida, desde a sua exploração até aos procedimentos para a sua recuperação, reutilização ou reciclagem, considerando ainda a preocupação com o meio ambiente e a viabilidade económica. A análise deste estudo apresenta ainda os procedimentos para valorização das baterias de iões lítio em fim de vida de veículos elétricos, enfatizando os métodos adotados para o uso da bateria em cada área analisada. Foram analisados estudos para a recuperação de baterias de iões lítio, os riscos que envolvem o procedimento e os métodos utilizados. Para reutilização foram identificadas aplicações das baterias em diversas áreas para armazenamento de energia elétrica, analisado o tempo de vida útil em segunda vida, e as vantagens associadas para diferentes aplicações. No que respeita à reciclagem, foram analisados os métodos mais utilizados para a recuperação dos materiais das baterias, avaliando a quantidade de matéria-prima recuperada e os custos associados, considerando a viabilidade económica e o benefício para o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na hierarquia da gestão de baterias de iões lítio em fim de vida dos veículos elétricos, todas as metodologias são importantes, porém há preferência no aproveitamento (começando pela recuperação e em seguida pela reutilização) das baterias, a fim de se extrair o máximo valor económico e minimizar impactos ambientais. Contudo, a reciclagem é o futuro para a recuperação dos materiais das baterias para a fabricação de outras baterias, retornando-as assim para a cadeia de valor. A exploração de lítio pode igualmente causar enormes impactos a nível ambiental e social, afetando as populações residentes nas imediações dos trabalhos de extração, por exemplo. Desde logo o tipo de exploração começa a ser contestado por diversos grupos de ativistas um pouco por todo o país e pelo mundo, dado o seu grau de contribuição para a degradação de ecossistemas, bem como para a sociedade em geral. No entanto, segundo alguns autores (Pellow et al., 2015; Sternberg & Bardow, 2015; Flexer; Baspineiro & Galli, 2018), o lítio também possui inúmeras vantagens em relação a outros minerais e pode ser utilizado em diversas áreas que ajudam e melhoram a vida em diferentes setores, beneficiando também vários atores sociais. Mas, comparando as duas perspetivas, será que as desvantagens são impeditivas de usufruirmos das suas vantagens? Foi esta a grande dúvida que esteve na base da realização do presente estudo sobre o lítio e a sua exploração, como tema para esta dissertação. O futuro da exploração do lítio em Portugal está por definir, o que torna este estudo um ponto de partida para outros estudos e para a definição de estratégias.
One of the great challenges of the 21st century is undoubtedly the production and storage of energy. With an immense variety of applications in different industries, lithium is a metal whose consumption has been growing very rapidly on a global scale. Lithium has long been used in portable electronic equipment, although in Portugal, the ceramics industry is the responsible for most of the metal’s consumption, with lithium not having a direct application in battery manufacturing. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Portugal holds the largest reserve of lithium in Europe, which is why many requests for exploration, research and extraction of this ore have been made in recent years, causing much controversy and media coverage. If lithium is seen as one of the technologies for fighting climate change and improving energy efficiency, it is an inconsistency that its exploration and exploitation is associated with environmentally undesirable practices. Lithium-ion batteries are the preferred electrochemical energy storage systems because they have a wide applicability. The present study is dedicated to the life cycle analysis of Lithium in energy storage applications, giving special focus to its entire cycle from its exploration to the lithium recovery, reuse and recycling procedures, evaluating economic feasibility and environmental impact. The analysis of this study also presents the procedures for the recovery of lithium-ion batteries at the end of life of electric vehicles, emphasizing the adopted methods for the use of the battery for each analyzed area. Studies were analyzed for the recovery of lithium-ion batteries, considering the risks involved in the procedure and the employed methods. Regarding reutilization, battery applications in several areas for storing electrical energy were identified, the second life span was analyzed and the associated advantages for different applications. As for recycling, the most used methods for material recovery from batteries were analyzed, evaluating the amount of raw material recovered and the associated costs, considering the economic feasibility and the benefit to the environment of these procedures. It was found that in the hierarchy of management of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles all methodologies are important, however the recovery of batteries is preferrable (starting with recovery and then reuse), to extract maximum economic value and minimize environmental impacts. However, recycling is the future, as it enables the recovery of the materials from the batteries that can be used for manufacturing other batteries, thus returning it to the value chain. Lithium mining can also cause huge environmental and social impacts, affecting the populations living in the vicinity of the lithium extraction and processing facilities, for example. Since the beginning, this type of mining began to be contested by several activist groups around the country and the world, given its degree of contribution to the degradation of ecosystems, as well as to society in general. However, according to some authors (Pellow et al., 2015; Sternberg & Bardow, 2015; Flexer; Baspineiro & Galli, 2018), lithium also has numerous advantages over other minerals and can be used in several areas that can help improve life in different sectors, also benefiting various social actors. But, comparing the two perspectives, are the disadvantages preventing us from enjoying its advantages? This was the major question that led to choosing lithium and its exploitation as the theme for this dissertation. The future of lithium exploration in Portugal is yet to be defined, which makes this study a starting point for other studies and for the definition of strategies.
One of the great challenges of the 21st century is undoubtedly the production and storage of energy. With an immense variety of applications in different industries, lithium is a metal whose consumption has been growing very rapidly on a global scale. Lithium has long been used in portable electronic equipment, although in Portugal, the ceramics industry is the responsible for most of the metal’s consumption, with lithium not having a direct application in battery manufacturing. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Portugal holds the largest reserve of lithium in Europe, which is why many requests for exploration, research and extraction of this ore have been made in recent years, causing much controversy and media coverage. If lithium is seen as one of the technologies for fighting climate change and improving energy efficiency, it is an inconsistency that its exploration and exploitation is associated with environmentally undesirable practices. Lithium-ion batteries are the preferred electrochemical energy storage systems because they have a wide applicability. The present study is dedicated to the life cycle analysis of Lithium in energy storage applications, giving special focus to its entire cycle from its exploration to the lithium recovery, reuse and recycling procedures, evaluating economic feasibility and environmental impact. The analysis of this study also presents the procedures for the recovery of lithium-ion batteries at the end of life of electric vehicles, emphasizing the adopted methods for the use of the battery for each analyzed area. Studies were analyzed for the recovery of lithium-ion batteries, considering the risks involved in the procedure and the employed methods. Regarding reutilization, battery applications in several areas for storing electrical energy were identified, the second life span was analyzed and the associated advantages for different applications. As for recycling, the most used methods for material recovery from batteries were analyzed, evaluating the amount of raw material recovered and the associated costs, considering the economic feasibility and the benefit to the environment of these procedures. It was found that in the hierarchy of management of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles all methodologies are important, however the recovery of batteries is preferrable (starting with recovery and then reuse), to extract maximum economic value and minimize environmental impacts. However, recycling is the future, as it enables the recovery of the materials from the batteries that can be used for manufacturing other batteries, thus returning it to the value chain. Lithium mining can also cause huge environmental and social impacts, affecting the populations living in the vicinity of the lithium extraction and processing facilities, for example. Since the beginning, this type of mining began to be contested by several activist groups around the country and the world, given its degree of contribution to the degradation of ecosystems, as well as to society in general. However, according to some authors (Pellow et al., 2015; Sternberg & Bardow, 2015; Flexer; Baspineiro & Galli, 2018), lithium also has numerous advantages over other minerals and can be used in several areas that can help improve life in different sectors, also benefiting various social actors. But, comparing the two perspectives, are the disadvantages preventing us from enjoying its advantages? This was the major question that led to choosing lithium and its exploitation as the theme for this dissertation. The future of lithium exploration in Portugal is yet to be defined, which makes this study a starting point for other studies and for the definition of strategies.
Description
Keywords
Lítio Ciclo de Vida Armazenamento Energia Bateria Aplicações Extração 5´R Automóveis REEE Veículos Elétricos Lithium Life Cycle Storage Energy Battery Applications Extraction Automobile WEEE Electrical Vehicle