| 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
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.