Lithium-ion Battery Recycling

BATTERY RECYCLING

NEOMETALS HAS DEVELOPED A SUSTAINABLE PROPRIETARY PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF VALUABLE CONSTITUENTS FROM CELL PRODUCTION SCRAP AND END-OF-LIFE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES (LIBs).

What

Neometals has developed a proprietary sustainable process for the recovery of valuable constituents from cell production scrap and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). The Neometals processing flowsheet targets recovery of the majority of all battery materials from LiBs that might otherwise be disposed of in land fill or processed in energy-intensive pyrometallurgical recovery circuits.

Specifically, the recycling process targets the recovery of valuable materials from consumer electronic batteries (devices with lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes), and nickel-rich electric vehicle and stationary storage battery chemistries (lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathodes). Through its recycling joint venture (“Primobius GmbH”) with German Company SMS group, Neometals aims to make revenue from provision of recycling services, mechanical equipment and plant supply and royalties from technology licencing.

Why

The need for sustainable and circular LIB recycling solutions is being driven by burgeoning LiB production for the EV and electronics industries. Landfilling and stockpiling of LiBs is no longer an option given that:

Spent and scrap LiBs are recognised as hazardous waste and pose a storage and transport fire risk;
Once liberated, LiB constituent materials are valuable in a direct economic sense but also due to forecast raw material shortages and shoring-up of non-mined, non-conflict national domestic supply chains;
Hydrometallurgical recycling (like Neometals) supports electrification with a reduced Greenhouse Gas footprint with efficient material recovery rates; and
Recycling is no longer optional i.e. Governments mandating recycling and industry stewardship to support circular economic principles.

As a result, stakeholder expectations, corporate responsibility, regulations and economics are driving the push for ethical disposal and recycling from what is a very low base today.

Primobius Advantages

Clear and credible path to commercialisation and cashflow;
Unique patented technology;
Eco flowsheet enables true closed loop with low CO₂ footprint that helps reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
Acceptance of broad battery chemistries;
Demonstrated first quarter opex and carbon footprint;
Recognised plant building pedigree courtesy of SMS group;
Business model flexibility including sale of plant packages;
No requirement to source fragmented feed supply given plant owners contribute their own feed;
Revenue from a low-capital, low-risk licensing / royalty business model.

Status

Years of R&D development including bench, pilot and demonstration trials, feasibility studies and engineering has culminated in Primobius running a small commercial operation in Germany and building a plant for Mercedes with planning for another another in the USA. Primobius is product is ‘product ready’ on its small shredding plants and will use larger demonstration with Mercedes-Benz to achieve product readiness to rollout its larger recycling plant packages.