Author name: Cornelius Karow

As part of the SIB:DE consortium, the Aachen-based company Cylib is participating in the development of an industrial recycling process for sodium-ion batteries. Twenty-five partners from industry and research are working on the project, including VARTA, EDAG, and several Fraunhofer Institutes. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, the project is scheduled to run until early 2029. The project aims to develop large-format sodium-ion cells, while simultaneously investigating their recyclability. The aim is to lay the groundwork for industrial production before significant quantities of used batteries become available. EDAG Production Solutions coordinates the project activities. Cylib, in collaboration with the Technical University of Braunschweig, is leading the recycling activities. Focus on two recycling pathways Specifically, two different pathways are being examined. One is based on established mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes. The second approach, known as direct recycling, involves reusing active materials without complete chemical processing. According to the project description, this approach could reduce costs and preserve material properties, particularly for production waste. A pilot demonstration is planned for 2029. cylib states that it is pursuing a strategy of building up recycling capacities at an early stage. The company is planning an industrial facility at CHEMPARK Dormagen with an annual processing capacity of up to 60,000 tons. The company has implemented a similar approach for lithium-ion batteries and raised over 140 million euros for this purpose. Source:https://www.cylib.de/post/cylib-pioneers-sodium-ion-battery-recycling-with-german-industry-and-research

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. Source:https://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en/Press_Releases/electrochemical-process-enables-recovery-of-valuable-raw-materials.html

The Munich-based battery recycler tozero has begun operations at an industrial demonstration plant for recovering critical raw materials from used batteries. Located at Chemical Park Gendorf, the facility was built in six months, according to the company. The plant is expected to process approximately 1,500 tons of battery material annually and recover more than 100 tons of lithium carbonate, as well as graphite and nickel-cobalt mixtures. tozero states that it uses an acid-free hydrometallurgical process that enables recovery in a single step. The resulting materials are expected to be pure enough for direct reuse in production. Additionally, tozero claims that its method is more cost-effective than traditional mining.  According to the company, recycled lithium and graphite have already been qualified by battery component manufacturers. The plant serves as the basis for a larger production facility, which is planned for completion by 2030. This plant is expected to process 45,000 tons of battery material annually and supply significantly higher volumes of lithium and graphite. Significance for Raw Material Supply in Europe Recycled raw materials are becoming increasingly important in the context of broader policy objectives, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. Currently, Europe is heavily dependent on imports, particularly for lithium and graphite. At the same time, the volume of used batteries is growing due to the rise of electric mobility. Therefore, the company views recycling as a key component in reducing this dependence. Source:Information via email