The Surprising Power Behind Disposable Vapes – And How We Are Unlocking It 

Introduction

The use of disposable vapes has skyrocketed in recent years, especially among students, who are drawn to their sleek design and ease of use. However, beneath their simple exterior lies a hidden environmental challenge. Each vape contains a small but complex electronic system, including circuit boards, plastics, metals, and most critically, a lithium ion battery. As vape usage increases, so does the amount of e-waste, which is the fastest-growing waste stream globally. Alarmingly, only 17% of e-waste is recycled each year, underscoring the urgent need for better waste management practices. 

Most disposable vapes end up in general waste bins and eventually landfills, where the lithium batteries can leak harmful chemicals into the soil and water, posing a serious threat to the environment.

What is SLR 

SecondLife Research was born out of our shared concern as three engineering students at the University of Bath. We noticed a significant rise in the use of disposable vapes, especially among our peers during nights out, pre-drinks, and pub gatherings. The appeal of these vapes lies in their convenience—they’re easy to buy, use, and discard, all in the span of a single evening. However, we were troubled by how often these devices ended up in general waste bins, contributing to the growing issue of e-waste. Recognizing the environmental impact, particularly the wasted lithium in the batteries and damage to the local environment, we decided to take action. We began by collecting discarded vapes around campus, brainstorming ways to repurpose the valuable components, and ultimately created SecondLife Research as a means to reduce electronic waste and contribute to more sustainable waste management in the UK.

Lithium Polymer Batteries

Lithium polymer batteries are incredibly useful due to their high energy density and compact size, making them ideal for a wide range of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, toothbrushes, and laptops. These batteries pack a lot of power into a small form factor, which is why they are so widely used in modern technology. However, the extraction of lithium, the critical component in these batteries, is an expensive and resource-intensive process.

The process of extracting lithium involves several energy-intensive steps. It begins with pumping lithium-rich underground brine into large evaporation ponds, where the brine is left to evaporate naturally under the sun. As the water evaporates, salts like magnesium and sodium are removed. When the concentration of lithium becomes high enough, lithium oxides precipitate out, which are then purified through chemical processes. Finally, the purified lithium is converted into lithium hydroxide, which can be used in battery manufacturing.

This extraction process not only requires significant energy but also produces greenhouse gases and chemical pollutants, impacting the surrounding environment. Given the cost and environmental toll of lithium extraction, it’s crucial to treat lithium as a precious resource that should be reused as much as possible. Single-use applications, like those found in disposable vapes, contribute to unnecessary wastage, highlighting the need for more sustainable practices to extend the life of this valuable material and reduce global lithium demand.

Once manufactured, lithium ion batteries are a rechargeable energy storage device with a lifespan of around 200 recharge cycles. Batteries that are found in disposable vapes have not been through a full discharge-charge cycle meaning they are comparable to brand new batteries with no signs of degradation.  We saw this as a waste of resource that has been intentionally designed into 

EcoCell - Our Solution 

Our solution to the problem is EcoCell, a power solution for engineers, students, makers and other electronics enthusiasts. Consisting of USB-C charging and a 5V regulated output voltage, it is the perfect battery for any small electronics projects including IOT, sensors, microcontrollers and any other medium power application. One of the main focuses for this project was safety. Lithium ion batteries require a particular voltage/current pattern whilst charging referred to as CC-CV (constant current, constant voltage). Allowing the battery to charge above its rated voltage over multiple charge discharge cycles can cause damage and in extreme cases fires. Ecocell includes multiple safety features such as over/under voltage, over current, thermal and short circuit protection to ensure the lifespan and safety that we set out to achieve.

The Future of SLR and Our Plans

E-waste is currently a massive issue for our ecosystems and general environment, and we picture a world in which it can be used, recycled and repurposed. With new research, careful design and novel waste management practices SecondLife Research will aim to increase the lifespan of electronics, cutting back on UK e-waste and reducing carbon emissions for a cleaner planet. Ecocell is just the beginning, this is a sector that is rapidly growing and we hope to lead the way in maximising the usage we get from our planets precious resources (and cleaning up our city whilst we do!)