The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) is developing an electrochemical process to recover critical raw materials from batteries. The focus is on lithium, cobalt, and nickel, the demand for which has risen significantly due to the increased use of lithium-ion batteries. The project, named “MeGaBat,” aims to recover high-purity materials from recycling processes, thereby closing the material cycle.
Process adaptable to various metals
The process is based on treating process water from battery recycling. This water is fed into an electrochemical reactor where specially manufactured electrodes selectively bind ions from the wastewater. These electrodes are produced using a screen-printing process and can be adapted to various metals. This allows not only lithium, but also cobalt, nickel, and copper, to be isolated. At the end of the process, the separated substances are in powder form.
Compared to hydrometallurgical processes, this method reportedly requires no additional chemicals and consumes less energy. It also promises a 30-40% increase in efficiency. As part of the project, the technology has already been tested on a laboratory scale. Currently, a pilot plant is being built for larger-scale tests. The project is scheduled to run until the end of 2028 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space.
