High-Purity Recycling Technology Unblocks Circular Links

Industry data shows that 80 kg of copper foil can be extracted from processing 1 ton of waste lithium batteries. Based on current market prices, refined recycling of per ton of raw materials can increase profits by 20%. The oxygen-lean crushing-multi-stage separation process developed by Henan Jufeng achieves a copper and aluminum recovery rate of over 98% under the protection of inert gas. Equipped with an AI visual recognition system, the equipment can adapt to various battery structures, with a sorting efficiency of 2 tons per hour—60% higher than traditional production lines.

Lüjie Environmental Protection’s newly commissioned 10,000-ton-scale project adopts a combined technology of low-temperature pyrolysis (400-600℃) and air separation. Under nitrogen protection, it achieves a copper recovery rate of ≥99% and a purity of over 99.75%. By completely decomposing electrolytes and binders, this technology controls the thickness error of recycled copper foil within ±0.01mm, fully meeting the production standards for new batteries. Additionally, the patented hydrometallurgical technology developed by Zhejiang Shangao New Energy enables efficient step-by-step recovery of copper, aluminum, and iron, providing diverse technical options for the industry.

Multi-Field Applications Create Substitution Value

Recycled copper is rapidly penetrating key links across the entire new energy industry chain. In the new energy vehicle sector, 450 tons of copper foil are required per GWh of power batteries, and each DC fast-charging pile contains 80 kg of copper. The promotion of 800V high-voltage platforms will further increase copper demand per vehicle. New trends are also emerging in the construction sector: the usage of copper connectors in prefabricated buildings has tripled compared to traditional processes, and green building standards now mandate that recycled copper accounts for 30% of total copper usage.

The new demand driven by 5G base station construction is equally notable. Each 5G base station uses 20 kg of copper—double the amount used in 4G stations—with the penetration rate of copper-based composite materials in heat dissipation systems reaching 65%. According to calculations by the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, the amount of copper resources recovered from retired new energy vehicle batteries will reach 420,000 tons per year by 2025, which can reduce copper concentrate import demand by 4.2 million tons, equivalent to reducing copper ore mining by 190 million tons.

Dual Drivers: Environmental Benefits and Industrial Upgrading

From a full-life-cycle perspective, recycled copper production demonstrates significant environmental advantages. Compared to primary copper production, each ton of recycled copper saves 1 ton of standard coal, nearly 400 m3 of water, and reduces solid waste emissions by 380 tons—equivalent to reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by 0.137 tons—achieving an energy savings rate of 87%. Lüjie Environmental Protection’s oxygen-free cracking technology reduces energy consumption by 40% and carbon emission intensity by 25% compared to traditional pyrometallurgy, helping enterprises obtain ISO 14067 carbon footprint certification.

At the policy level, the 14th Five-Year Plan for Circular Economy Development sets a target of recycled copper accounting for 40% of total copper output by 2025. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s (MEE) "Waste Cleanup Campaign" has shut down 12,000 unqualified small workshops, driving the industry concentration ratio (CR5) up to 57%. Blockchain traceability systems have achieved 100% coverage among key enterprises, and the "New Apprenticeship System" trains 20,000 skilled talents annually, providing support for industrial upgrading.

With technological iteration and policy improvements, the scale of the recycled copper market is expanding rapidly. It is expected to exceed RMB 83 billion by 2025 and reach RMB 150 billion by 2030. China’s recycled copper industry is transitioning from a resource supplementer to a value creator, securing a strategic position in the global competition for "urban mining" development and building a critical resource closed loop for the sustainable development of the new energy industry.