Eco-friendly recycling of coke waste: Transforming steel manufacturing waste into high-purity graphite for lithium-ion batteries

This study aims to develop an environmentally friendly process for recycling ECS dust (dust collected through the Emission Control System), a waste product generated in steel manufacturing, into high-purity graphite for lithium-ion batteries. Although ECS dust is primarily composed of carbon derived from coke, its low purity limits its use as a raw material. To address this limitation, we developed a process that converts ECS dust into high-quality graphite using a sustainable and economically viable approach that avoids harmful chemicals, thereby enhancing industrial applicability. Through the process we developed, we successfully produced high-quality graphite with a high degree of graphitization of 93 %. Additionally, we conducted half-cell and full-cell tests using electrodes with high mass loading that incorporate SiO_x, aligning with the current trends in secondary battery technology. Our results demonstrated the recycling potential of ECS dust, anticipating prospective practical applications through experimental designs tailored to industrial processes.