A new method makes it possible to recover lithium hydroxide from used electric vehicle batteries. The process can help meet the demand for lithium, which is expected to increase further in the future.
The process was developed by Belgian company Syensqo and German company cylib. Syensqo focuses on developing solutions that contribute to safer, cleaner and more sustainable products for domestic use, food and consumer goods, aircraft, cars, batteries, smart devices and medical devices.
cylib, for its part, focuses on recycling batteries. In doing so, it is committed to the efficient and environmentally friendly recovery of raw materials such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and manganese from battery packs, residues from production processes and black mass. The latter term refers to the crushed and processed material created when recycling lithium-ion batteries. In this process, the mass consists of metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
Producing lithium hydroxide from used batteries
The parties have succeeded in producing very pure lithium hydroxide from used EV batteries. Lithium hydroxide is a chemical compound consisting of lithium atoms and hydroxide ions. The material is used in various industrial applications, including thus the production of batteries for EVs. Syensqo and cylib speak of an important milestone in the recovery of valuable materials.
The companies' process enables the extraction of lithium from black mass derived from batteries with various chemical compositions on a single production line. These include NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) and LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate). The process simplifies the recycling of used EV batteries and can simplify the versatility of recycling lines, which also reduces costs.
'Scalable route for lithium recovery'
"Syensqo's technology perfectly complements Cylib's hydrometallurgical process, improving both the yield and purity of the recovered lithium. By combining our expertise in solution extraction with Cylib's process, we are developing a scalable route for high-purity lithium recovery that is in line with Europe's circular economy and battery regulation goals," explains Laurent Cohen, Strategic Development and Alliances for Mining Solutions at Syensqo.
The recycling process uses a technology developed by Syensqo in collaboration with Tenova Advanced Technologies. In doing so, the parties deploy CYANEX 936P, a lithium solvent developed by Syensqo. Extracting lithium from materials using a solvent is significantly more efficient than other methods, such as pulverisation, according to the company.
Less lithium lost
"This alternative extraction process for lithium provides improved efficiency as less lithium is lost during each stage of the recovery and purification process. Lithium solution extraction is not dependent on weather conditions and has been shown to reduce the carbon footprint of lithium production. Brine can be returned to the salt flats after lithium extraction, and lithium solution extraction requires only a fraction of the surface area required by evaporation ponds," reports Syensqo.
