What distinguishes 'direct recycling' from other battery recycling methods?

Direct recycling distinguishes itself from other battery recycling methods, such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, by aiming to recover the cathode materials directly without fundamentally altering their chemical composition or structure. Instead of breaking down the battery components into their constituent elements and then resynthesizing them into new materials, direct recycling focuses on preserving the existing cathode material structure, reducing the need for energy-intensive and costly re-synthesis processes. This approach typically involves physical processes like mechanical separation, crushing, and sorting, followed by a limited number of chemical treatments to purify and rejuvenate the cathode material. By retaining the original cathode material structure, direct recycling can achieve higher material recovery rates, reduce energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other recycling methods. However, direct recycling requires more precise sorting and pre-processing to separate different battery chemistries and remove impurities. It also may not be suitable for all battery types or degradation levels.