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Nickel metal hydride battery recycling (NiMH battery recycling) is not only an environmental imperative but also a financially valuable economic activity. According to global market analysis, the nickel metal hydride battery market reached approximately 14.38 billion yuan in 2024 and continues to grow steadily, providing ample raw material sources for the recycling industry.
In European countries like Germany, nickel metal hydride battery recycling has developed into a well-established system, driven by stringent regulations and mature recycling technologies. The European Union established a unified regulatory framework for the entire lifecycle of waste batteries through Regulation (EU) 2025/606. This regulation specifies calculation methods, verification rules, and documentation requirements for waste battery recycling efficiency and material recovery rates.
Nickel metal hydride battery recycling primarily processes waste batteries from electric vehicles, energy storage systems, power tools, and communication equipment. These batteries typically contain valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements. Through efficient recycling processes, these resources can be reintroduced into the industrial chain, reducing reliance on virgin minerals.
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The primary materials processed in nickel metal hydride battery recycling originate from the battery's positive and negative electrode materials. The cathode is typically composed of nickel hydroxide, which gives the battery its name. According to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, the cathode powder from discarded nickel-metal hydride batteries contains approximately 67.57% NiO and 7.78% CoO.
Beyond electrode materials, NiMH battery recycling involves processing other components like casings, cables, and manufacturing waste. Under EU Regulation (EU) 2025/606, these are categorized as “input fraction”—the dry weight of waste batteries entering the recycling process.
During recycling, an intermediate product called “black mass” is generated. This mixture of cathode and anode materials requires further processing before it can be counted toward the recycling output fraction. Professional NiMH battery recycling plants sort and process these wastes to maximize resource recovery efficiency.
NiMH battery recycling primarily targets two high-value metals: nickel and cobalt. Research indicates that advanced recycling technologies can achieve cobalt recovery rates as high as 99.04%, while nickel leaching rates remain relatively low at approximately 5.94%.
Beyond nickel and cobalt, NiMH battery recycling also involves recovering rare earth elements. Recovery rates for rare earth alloys in NiMH batteries (such as LaNi5) can exceed 90%. These rare earth elements play a crucial role in hydrogen storage within batteries and possess significant recycling value.
EU regulations specifically emphasize recycling requirements for critical metals. In calculating material recovery rate (rRM), only outputs that “replace virgin materials” are counted for key metals like cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and lead. This necessitates a focus not only on recycling volume but also on recycling quality for NiMH battery recycling.
Significant advancements have been made in NiMH battery recycling technology in recent years. A research team at Phenikaa University in Hanoi, Vietnam, innovatively employed a choline chloride-urea eutectic solvent system combined with ultrasonic-assisted technology. This approach dramatically reduced nickel-cobalt leaching time from 24 hours to just 80 minutes, significantly boosting recycling efficiency.
Bioleaching technology represents another innovation in NiMH battery recycling. Utilizing Ferri-Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (FSRB) under pH=1.5 conditions enables selective nickel extraction within 72 hours, achieving an extraction rate of 85%. This biotechnology offers environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness advantages in NiMH battery recycling.
Regarding mixed battery processing, researchers discovered that synergistic treatment of NiMH and lithium-ion batteries enhances recovery efficiency. The hydride alloy in NiMH reduces the high-valent metals in Li-ion cathodes, lowering the reaction activation energy by 15%. This synergistic effect offers new directions for future Nickel Metal Hydride Battery recycling.
Electrochemical deposition technology enables direct conversion of recovered metals into high-value products. Studies indicate that by controlling the potential, NiCo alloys with grain sizes as small as 11.56 nanometers can be directly deposited from leachate. This nanomaterial holds application potential in fields like electrocatalysis, enhancing the economic value of NiMH battery recycling.
With the EU's implementation of a mandatory 80% lithium recovery rate target by 2031, global Nickel Metal Hydride Battery recycling technology will undergo a new wave of innovation. Future recycling processes will become more efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable, making greater contributions to the circular economy.
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