Sub-project 5.1

Battery and Black mass Pretreatment for Hydrometallurgy process

Theme 1

This project will develop a multi-step process utilizing the physical and chemical differences between battery components to achieve better separation between all the fractions. The tecniques included for raw batteries will be: Electrolyte removal using chemical solvent dissolution, heat treatment and ultrasonic cleaning; Electrostatic feed to separate metal and non-metallic components; Eddie current, Gravity spout, pneumatic and centrifuge to separate metallic foils. For black mass (pCAM/Anode), techniques will be Sieving separation; Flotation using hydrophobicity/philicity; Heat treatment.

Sub-project 5.3

Kinetics for Battery Grade Product processes for precursor cathode active materials

Theme 2, 3 + 5

This project aims to produce valorised battery-grade materials from precursor cathode and anode active materials (pCAM/pAAM) in hydrometallurgical/ionometallurgical LIB recycling processes. It will also investigate direct production of battery-grade materials from black mass, bypassing pCAM and pAAM production. Additionally, it will analyse the effects of solvent extraction and coprecipitation on the process performance and evaluate battery performance and cost against batteries produced from individual recycled materials. This project develops additional processes to produce battery grade materials from existing DES process products.

Sub-project 5.4

Recycling of critical minerals via subcritical leaching (TBC)

Theme 2, 3 + 5

This project will investigate the use of subcritical fluids, including organic acid and deep eutectic solvents (DES), in recovering critical minerals from end of life lithium-ion batteries. Subcritical fluids will be investigated as media to extract contaminating compounds, and for improvement in metal leaching and solvent recovery.

A batch reactor will be used to determine process conditions followed by the design of a fully continuous process which would be optimised for capital and operating cost benefits.

The benefit to industry will be the development of process streams and improved efficiency and economics of the leaching pathways with low associated emissions.