Tecnalia targets critical metals in scrap batteries

Spain – Spanish technology co-operative Tecnalia is to launch a pilot project at a number of battery recycling plants in order to recover nickel, lithium, cobalt and lanthanides from scrap batteries.

The project relies on standard hydrometallurgical equipment and task-specific, low-cost and non-toxic ionic liquids to extract the metals, Tecnalia says. The liquids are said to ′require minimal or no processing to reuse them′.

The organisation hopes the pilot project will successfully demonstrate the process to the wider recycling markets.

Tecnalia is ultimately aiming to reduce critical metal consumption by increasing recycling efficiencies regarding spent battery waste. By effectively introducing ′more sustainable hydrometallurgical processing′, it is setting out to increase the capabilities of the SME community to carry out the complete recycling process.

For more information, visit: www.tecnalia.com/en