Recycling Lithium Hydroxide from Spent Batteries: A Job by Syensqo and "cylib"
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Aachen-based recycling company, 'cylib', and Belgian chemical group, Syensqo, have developed a groundbreaking process for extracting lithium from used electric vehicle batteries. This process, which utilizes a highly selective extraction agent called CYANEX® 936P, has the potential to contribute significantly to the circular economy of lithium in the electric vehicle industry.
The new process, a combination of hydrometallurgical technology from cylib and solution extraction technology from Syensqo, allows for the simultaneous processing of various cell chemistries, including nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), on a single production line. This integrated approach simplifies process control and reduces investment costs by avoiding separate treatment lines for different chemistries.
CYANEX® 936P, Syensqo's proprietary solvent extractant, is renowned for its exceptional lithium selectivity. The high selectivity of this extraction agent ensures high yield and purity in lithium recovery, resulting in battery-grade lithium hydroxide that meets or exceeds the purity standards required by cathode active material manufacturers.
The success of this pilot scale process indicates potential for larger scale industrial application in the future. The partners have successfully extracted battery-grade lithium hydroxide from black mass, a significant step towards addressing the regulatory imperatives of the European Union. The technology aims to recover at least 50 percent of lithium content from battery waste by the end of 2027, increasing to at least 80 percent by the end of 2031, as mandated by the European Union’s Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.
While the partners have not mentioned any plans for commercialization of the technology at this time, the success of the pilot scale process and its potential for large-scale industrial application suggest that this could be a promising development in the field of lithium recycling. Furthermore, the partners claim that their procedure can contribute to the circular economy of lithium in the electric vehicle industry.
It is important to note that the technology developed by cylib and Syensqo has not been specified to be applicable to the recovery of lithium from sources other than black mass. Additionally, the partners have not disclosed any information about the potential cost-effectiveness of the technology beyond reducing investment costs, as mentioned earlier.
References: [1] cylib press release [2] Syensqo press release [3] European Commission Battery Regulation [4] Journal of Cleaner Production
- This groundbreaking technology developed by cylib and Syensqo, particularly the use of CYANEX® 936P, has the potential to revolutionize not only the lithium recovery process in the environmental-science sector but also contribute significantly to the finance and technology aspects of the environmental-science industry through its cost-efficient and high-yield lithium extraction.
- The success of this lithium recycling method, if scaled up, could potentially have a profound impact on the industry, enhancing the sustainability of technology in the electric vehicle sector and promoting the circular economy, as required by the European Union's Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.
