• CSIR - Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute
  • G20
Waste to Value

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

A zero-discharge hydrometallurgy-based process for the recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium ion batteries

  • IPR
    IPR Status & Details:
  • Applied for filing
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

Recycling of used lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)

Recovery of metals for economic benefits

Recovery of excess lixiviant & by-product

Preventing environmental pollution

Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
  • A complete process for recycling of cathode of used LIBs.
  • The hydrometallurgical process involves environmentally benign lixiviant (acetic acid) for leaching of metals, which are subsequently separated through sequential precipitation method with recovery of excess lixiviant and by-product.
  • Room temperature leaching (no external heating), as compared to high temperature leaching in most of the reports.
  • Recovery of individual metallic components in pure form by precipitation methods only (most of the reports use solvent extraction method for recovery of Co & Ni).
  • The process does not include any solvent extraction step, avoiding possible fire hazard, which is very prone for recycler industries.
  • Excess lixiviant (acetic acid) is recovered, which is rarely reported.
  • The by-product (sodium acetate) was recovered at the end without any left-out liquor, claiming a zero-discharge process, rarely reported.
    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:
    TRL 4

    1 kg cathode powder scale

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

    We are in touch with few recycling companies who have shown interest. After the patent is filed, we will go for process demonstration. This may not be a very profitable business but considering the scarcity lithium and cobalt in our country and to prevent environmental hazard, there is a greater scope.

    Environmental Considerations:

    The process is environmentally benign with a zero-discharge process.

    Status of Licensing:
    Not yet licensed
    Status of Commercialization:
    Not applicable
    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Used LIBs, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, sodium sulphide, dimethylglyoxime, sodium hydroxide.

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    Dismantling unit (shredder, crusher, grinder, separator & dust collector), Hastelloy/Glass reactor, Basket centrifuge, Nutsche filter, dryer etc.

    Techno-Economics

    Depends on types of cathode material. For a particular type of battery easy to do. For mixed batteries the techno-economics depend on the composition of the cathode material; Computed and would be made available on request based on the used battery study

    Technology Package

    Know-how of hydrometallurgical process for sequential separation; Demonstration of the process; Generic process equipment needed for pilot scale can be given; Technical specification for battery dismantling unit can be provided though not in our work or demo scope.