IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/recore/v119y2017icp109-116.html

Substance flow analysis of lithium for sustainable management in mainland China: 2007–2014

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Bin
  • Liu, Jingru
  • Yang, Jianxin

Abstract

Lithium as an energy metal has gained significance in a wide range of application that spread across many industry sectors, along with its key role in emerging electric vehicles. China is a key use and producer of lithium and related products. In order to draw an entire picture of the lithium cycle, this study attempts to quantify the flows, stocks, and loss of lithium in the anthropogenic cycle in China, from 2007 to 2014. Substance Flow Analysis is employed in this paper for data mining and compilation. The results illustrate that production and use increased greatly from 2007 to 2014, due to the fast increase of the lithium ion battery. China’s lithium industry still heavily relied on the import of natural lithium ores, where lithium exports were mainly in the form of lithium ion battery-powered products, including laptop computers, mobile phones and electric bicycles. The stocks of lithium increased gradually from 2007 to 2014, but the loss of lithium from direct use also increased and more quickly. Therefore, the lithium stock in society cannot provide meaningful quantities as the second source for lithium production. It is suggested that the lithium in batteries should be recovered, as most lithium inputs are dispersed back into the environment, while the lithium industry still relies on imported lithium resources in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Bin & Liu, Jingru & Yang, Jianxin, 2017. "Substance flow analysis of lithium for sustainable management in mainland China: 2007–2014," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 109-116.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:119:y:2017:i:c:p:109-116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.05.015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344916301252
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.05.015?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kleijn, Rene & Huele, Ruben & van der Voet, Ester, 2000. "Dynamic substance flow analysis: the delaying mechanism of stocks, with the case of PVC in Sweden," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 241-254, February.
    2. Zeng, Xianlai & Li, Jinhui, 2013. "Implications for the carrying capacity of lithium reserve in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 58-63.
    3. T. E. Graedel & Julian Allwood & Jean‐Pierre Birat & Matthias Buchert & Christian Hagelüken & Barbara K. Reck & Scott F. Sibley & Guido Sonnemann, 2011. "What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(3), pages 355-366, June.
    4. Chen, Wei-Qiang & Shi, Lei, 2012. "Analysis of aluminum stocks and flows in mainland China from 1950 to 2009: Exploring the dynamics driving the rapid increase in China's aluminum production," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 18-28.
    5. Grosjean, Camille & Miranda, Pamela Herrera & Perrin, Marion & Poggi, Philippe, 2012. "Assessment of world lithium resources and consequences of their geographic distribution on the expected development of the electric vehicle industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1735-1744.
    6. Paul W. Gruber & Pablo A. Medina & Gregory A. Keoleian & Stephen E. Kesler & Mark P. Everson & Timothy J. Wallington, 2011. "Global Lithium Availability," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(5), pages 760-775, October.
    7. Miedema, Jan H. & Moll, Henri C., 2013. "Lithium availability in the EU27 for battery-driven vehicles: The impact of recycling and substitution on the confrontation between supply and demand until2050," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 204-211.
    8. Guo, Xueyi & Song, Yu, 2008. "Substance flow analysis of copper in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(6), pages 874-882.
    9. Spatari, S. & Bertram, M. & Gordon, Robert B. & Henderson, K. & Graedel, T.E., 2005. "Twentieth century copper stocks and flows in North America: A dynamic analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 37-51, July.
    10. Park, Jeong-a & Hong, Seok-jin & Kim, Ik & Lee, Ji-yong & Hur, Tak, 2011. "Dynamic material flow analysis of steel resources in Korea," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 456-462.
    11. Chen, Wei-Qiang & Graedel, T.E., 2012. "Dynamic analysis of aluminum stocks and flows in the United States: 1900–2009," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 92-102.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Jinyu & Luo, Qian & Sun, Xin & Zhang, Zitao & Dong, Xuesong, 2023. "The impact of renewable energy consumption on lithium trade patterns: An industrial chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    2. Hu, Xueyue & Wang, Chunying & Elshkaki, Ayman, 2024. "Material-energy Nexus: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Mu, Dong & Ren, Huanyu & Wang, Chao & Yue, Xiongping & Du, Jianbang & Ghadimi, Pezhman, 2023. "Structural characteristics and disruption ripple effect in a meso-level electric vehicle Lithium-ion battery supply chain network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Hao, Hongchang & Xing, Wanli & Wang, Anjian & Song, Hao & Han, Yawen & Zhao, Pei & Xie, Ziqi & Chen, Xuemei, 2022. "Multi-layer networks research on analyzing supply risk transmission of lithium industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Li, Zehong & Wang, Chunying & Chen, Jian, 2024. "Supply and demand of lithium in China based on dynamic material flow analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    6. Ren, Zhijun & Li, Huajie & Yan, Wenyi & Lv, Weiguang & Zhang, Guangming & Lv, Longyi & Sun, Li & Sun, Zhi & Gao, Wenfang, 2023. "Comprehensive evaluation on production and recycling of lithium-ion batteries: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Shao, Liuguo & Kou, Wenwen & Zhang, Hua, 2022. "The evolution of the global cobalt and lithium trade pattern and the impacts of the low-cobalt technology of lithium batteries based on multiplex network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    8. Zhou, Na & Su, Hui & Wu, Qiaosheng & Hu, Shougeng & Xu, Deyi & Yang, Danhui & Cheng, Jinhua, 2022. "China's lithium supply chain: Security dynamics and policy countermeasures," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Liu, Donghui & Gao, Xiangyun & An, Haizhong & Jia, Nanfei & Wang, Anjian, 2024. "Exploring market instability of global lithium resources based on chaotic dynamics analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    10. Liu, Meng & Li, Huajiao & Zhou, Jinsheng & Feng, Sida & Wang, Yanli & Wang, Xingxing, 2022. "Analysis of material flow among multiple phases of cobalt industrial chain based on a complex network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cao, Zhi & Shen, Lei & Liu, Litao & Zhao, Jianan & Zhong, Shuai & Kong, Hanxiao & Sun, Yanzhi, 2017. "Estimating the in-use cement stock in China: 1920–2013," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 21-31.
    2. Chen, Wu & Wang, Minxi & Li, Xin, 2016. "Analysis of copper flows in the United States: 1975–2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 67-76.
    3. Ciacci, Luca & Chen, Weiqiang & Passarini, Fabrizio & Eckelman, Matthew & Vassura, Ivano & Morselli, Luciano, 2013. "Historical evolution of anthropogenic aluminum stocks and flows in Italy," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1-8.
    4. Richa, Kirti & Babbitt, Callie W. & Gaustad, Gabrielle & Wang, Xue, 2014. "A future perspective on lithium-ion battery waste flows from electric vehicles," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 63-76.
    5. Maung, Kyaw Nyunt & Yoshida, Tomoharu & Liu, Gang & Lwin, Cherry Myo & Muller, Daniel B. & Hashimoto, Seiji, 2017. "Assessment of secondary aluminum reserves of nations," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 34-41.
    6. Wang, Minxi & Chen, Wu & Li, Xin, 2015. "Substance flow analysis of copper in production stage in the U.S. from 1974 to 2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 36-48.
    7. Chen, Wei-Qiang & Graedel, T.E., 2012. "Dynamic analysis of aluminum stocks and flows in the United States: 1900–2009," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 92-102.
    8. Simon, Bálint & Ziemann, Saskia & Weil, Marcel, 2015. "Potential metal requirement of active materials in lithium-ion battery cells of electric vehicles and its impact on reserves: Focus on Europe," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA), pages 300-310.
    9. Li, Yonglin & Zuo, Zhili & Cheng, Jinhua & Xu, Deyi, 2024. "Evolutionary characteristics and structural dependence determinants of global lithium trade network: An industry chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. B. Muller, Daniel, 2006. "Stock dynamics for forecasting material flows--Case study for housing in The Netherlands," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 142-156, August.
    11. Kim, Junbeum & Guillaume, Bertrand & Chung, Jinwook & Hwang, Yongwoo, 2015. "Critical and precious materials consumption and requirement in wind energy system in the EU 27," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 327-334.
    12. Sverdrup, Harald U. & Ragnarsdottir, Kristin Vala & Koca, Deniz, 2015. "Aluminium for the future: Modelling the global production, market supply, demand, price and long term development of the global reserves," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 139-154.
    13. Luca Ciacci & Ivano Vassura & Fabrizio Passarini, 2017. "Urban Mines of Copper: Size and Potential for Recycling in the EU," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, January.
    14. Shen, Angxing & Zhang, Jihong, 2024. "Technologies for CO2 emission reduction and low-carbon development in primary aluminum industry in China: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    15. Renaud, Karine M. & Manley, Ross & Nassar, Nedal T., 2023. "A comparison of copper use in China and India as a proxy for their economic development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    16. Huang, Chu-Long & Vause, Jonathan & Ma, Hwong-Wen & Yu, Chang-Ping, 2012. "Using material/substance flow analysis to support sustainable development assessment: A literature review and outlook," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 104-116.
    17. Sverdrup, Harald Ulrik, 2016. "Modelling global extraction, supply, price and depletion of the extractable geological resources with the LITHIUM model," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 112-129.
    18. Guo, Xueyi & Zhang, Jingxi & Tian, Qinghua, 2021. "Modeling the potential impact of future lithium recycling on lithium demand in China: A dynamic SFA approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    19. Zhou, Yucheng & Yang, Ning & Hu, Shanying, 2013. "Industrial metabolism of PVC in China: A dynamic material flow analysis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 33-40.
    20. Wang, Xiao-Qing & Qin, Meng & Moldovan, Nicoleta-Claudia & Su, Chi-Wei, 2023. "Bubble behaviors in lithium price and the contagion effect: An industry chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:119:y:2017:i:c:p:109-116. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kai Meng (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/resources-conservation-and-recycling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.