SK Innovation's LFP Battery Recycling Technology Published in International Journal

Eco-Friendly and Economical High-Purity Lithium Recovery Process
Contributing to Circular Economy and Key Mineral Localization

SK Innovation announced that its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery recycling technology, developed in-house, has been published in the internationally renowned chemical engineering journal, Separation and Purification Technology.

A researcher at SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute is presenting lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) recovered through lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery recycling technology. SK Innovation.

Traditional LFP battery recycling processes have posed significant environmental challenges, such as byproduct management and wastewater generation, and have also faced economic limitations due to high treatment costs. As a solution, SK Innovation has developed an eco-friendly process that selectively recovers lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) from LFP batteries using only water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).

This achievement is being recognized as a breakthrough in the LFP recycling sector, which has long been criticized for its environmental and economic shortcomings. SK Innovation’s eco-friendly recycling technology not only reduces environmental impact but also enables efficient recovery of raw materials, and is expected to make a significant contribution to the future of battery resource circulation and the expansion of related industries.

Recently, the market share of LFP batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) has been rapidly increasing. The International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that demand for LFP batteries, particularly from China, is rising sharply, with LFP batteries accounting for up to 50% of the market as of last year. Thanks to advantages such as low cost, high safety, and long lifespan, LFP batteries are seeing rapid adoption not only in mid- to low-priced electric vehicles and entry-level models but also in the ESS sector. In line with these market trends, SK Innovation’s subsidiary SK On is also preparing to produce pouch-type LFP cells for use in ESS and electric vehicles.

Accordingly, the ability to collect and recycle used batteries has emerged as a key factor in determining industrial competitiveness and resource security. In particular, as the use of LFP batteries in ESS increases, the importance of stable lithium recovery and eco-friendly processing technologies is being further emphasized.

Kim Pilseok, Head of SK Innovation’s Environmental Science and Technology Institute, stated, “This achievement overcomes the limitations of conventional battery recycling methods and represents a crucial technology for driving a sustainable virtuous cycle in the battery market. By stably recovering high-purity lithium carbonate, we will mitigate lithium supply risks and contribute to the expansion of the industrial ecosystem by strengthening collaboration with domestic and global battery manufacturing, materials, and recycling companies.”