Battery Recycling

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

Lithium carbonate recovered from used nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries by Aachen-based “cylib” has been qualified as suitable for production of new electric vehicle batteries.

German company Accurec claims it has opened the first recycling plant in Europe capable of recovering lithium from all types of such batteries.

Finnish battery material producer Tracegrow has presented a solution for extracting battery-grade manganese based entirely on recycled raw materials sourced from within the EU.

US-based company Redwood Materials has started recovering various critical raw materials at its Berkeley County site in South Carolina.

With an eye on EU regulations and the planned battery passport, Ascend Elements from the US and GEM from China intend to collaborate on battery recycling in Europe.

Environmental services provider PreZero has acquired German “Re.Lion.Bat. Circular,” which operates Europeʼs largest recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries in Meppen.

Chinese battery material company CNGR has established a recycling joint venture with German specialist “revomet”, a subsidiary of CRONIMET Group.