ADVANCED FUMING

The invention is in the field of pyrometallurgy and describes a process for the recovery of lithium by fuming.The process comprises smelting Li-ion batteries or their waste in a furnace with slag formers, resulting in a molten bath with distinct alloy and slag phases, and flue dust. Notably, at least 30% of the lithium is transferred to the flue dust under the chosen conditions without adding alkali or earth alkali halides.Li can then be recovered from the flue dust, valuable metals, such as Co and/or Ni, can be recovered from the alloy, and the remaining slag can be re-used in new smelting operations.