| 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 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 TRL Reference

    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.

    | Technology Photographs