Page 50 - ESJ – ENERGY STORAGE JOURNAL

FEATURE: RECYCLING

manufacture, he says. material that’s coming off the battery produc-
American “Where other processes are used, the batter- tion line and doesn’t go into the cell.
“But it still has all of the material on it, and
Manganese is way ies are smelted down. But that breaks it down it’s a perfect way for us to tackle the issue and
into a black slag, and from that slag you have
past the research to process more and break out the individu- prove our technology. The calculated value of
stage – it simply al metals, which means they’re not going to the metals on a NMC 622 are about $16 a
come up to the purity that batteries need. It’s
kilogram, and the reagents we’re using in the
needs the materials most likely that maybe 50% of the metals that pilot work out to be just under a dollar per kg.
“When you consider our utility costs, it’s
to work with, but are recovered go into industrial metals like al- very minimal. No heat, no energy. When it gets
loys for steel, if they even manage to get any
there just aren’t of it refined. And to refine it you have to go to being commercial, you’ll have labour costs
any batteries yet – through so many steps it’s just not worth it.” and whatnot but with the economies of scale
and processing more material, that’s also go-
Meseldzija says American Manganese has
Meseldzija been tackling the ‘low-hanging fruit’ in its pi- ing to drop off on your operating expenses.”
lot plant to prove its technology – the scrap Meseldzija says American Manganese is way

LITHIUM BATTERY RECYCLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE, JUST NOT HERE — HANS ERIC MELIN

Hans Eric Melin is the more to recycle lithium batteries than
founder of Circular Energy make new ones is not really true.
“There is also this perception that
Storage Research and there is a lack of technology, which is
Consulting, based in London the reason why we are not recycling
and specializing in lifecycle the batteries — but the main reason is
simply that there aren’t that many bat-
management of lithium ion teries to recycle,” he says. “So even in
batteries. The firm helps Europe, where we have a few compa-
nies that have hydrometallurgical pro-
companies develop end-of-life cesses, they haven’t really been able to
strategies for lithium batteries use it because they don’t have enough
and gives advice on how the materials — so they export it, either as
a black mass or in some cases export-
end-of-life sector affects the ing batteries whole, because it’s not
energy storage market overall. economical to run that process.”

90% of LiB materials are recovered
here are three widely upheld circular and sustainable than many
beliefs within the lead acid bat- other products and if you compare Melin says he has read up to 100 stud-
Ttery industry when it comes to them with lead acid, they’re not toxic in ies on hydro processes in which more
lithium batteries. One — they are more the same way,” he says. “Sure, cobalt than 90% of the materials have been
expensive. Two — they have a ten- and nickel are not good for you, but recovered — “and it’s been done for
dency to blow up. And three — they’re they’re not as hazardous as lead. And quite a long time,” he says. “None of
unrecyclable. the batteries are always re-used, in a the new processes has been invented
While the first two are undeniably true second application. To be able to still — there may be new patents filed, but
to a certain extent, the third is now be- be using something in 15 years’ time everyone is able to get their own pat-
ing strongly challenged, not just by the is sustainable, and much more circular. ent for something — it doesn’t mean it
companies who are making money do- The reality is there are processes in has been invented from scratch.”
ing it, but by consultants and industry Europe and North America — just not A perception that most processes
observers as well. the batteries.” are pyrometallurgical is also simply not
“Lithium batteries have been recycled In China, recycling is being done true, he says.
for a long time, almost 20 years, and it because of the need for materials. In “It might be used as a pre-step, go-
has not changed for years,” Melin told the west, the focus has always been ing down to cell level to take smaller
Energy Storage Journal. “The lack of on getting rid of the batteries respon- modules and packs, and from that
recycling has become one of the pillars sibly, which has meant packing them they get an alloy with nickel, cobalt and
in the dark side of the EV and there’s a off on ships to China. The waste ban copper. But that will be further refined
lot of interest in keeping up that image. implemented a year ago, when China if needed and they will do that with a
But when we talk about lithium batter- stopped taking the rest of the world’s hydro process.
ies not being recycled, the case is that rubbish, did not apply to batteries be- “In China and South Korea, they
they’re primarily not recycled here.” cause they are imported for ‘re-use’ – never use smelting as a pre-step. They
And that, he says, is where China, in power banks, for instance – and only can use pyrolysis, or calcination, and
Japan and South Korea are playing a sold to recyclers if they were found to some only use a mechanical process,
massive part. be not fit for purpose. like a straightforward one where the
“To me, lithium batteries are more Melin says the perception that it costs battery is discharged in a brine, which

48 • Energy Storage Journal • Summer 2019 www.energystoragejournal.com