ASX-listed Neometal’s joint venture (JV) with Primobius is a step closer to bridging the lithium-ion battery circular economy.
Improvements to the refining process in the partnership’s battery recycling technology have significantly increased metal recoveries to more than 95 per cent of nickel, cobalt and copper. Final lithium recoveries are pending after earlier testing pulled in more than 83 per cent lithium.
Primobius GmbH is a company jointly-held between Neometals and leading German engineering outfit SMS Group, with the partners holding equal ownership rights. The offspring JV venture company is deep in the throes of commercialising its patent-pending lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling technology.
Primobius’ recycling model is being rolled out in two stages – the first-stage shredding and separation operation known as “Spoke” and the second-stage refinery entitled “Hub”. The recycling process offers a scaleable, efficient, sustainable recycling solution that generates high-purity, low-carbon footprint battery materials for reuse in the battery supply chain.
The company recently completed three LIB recycling hub demonstration trials on electric vehicle (EV) battery modules that were shredded at its Hilchenback LIB disposal facility in Germany.
Data from metallurgical testwork will be fed into an engineering cost study for the commercial-scale hydrometallurgical refinery (Hub ECS) of a proposed 50-tonne per day integrated recycling operation in Kaiserslautern, also in Germany, and is expected to be finalised by July. Combined, the two ECS studies will allow the company to evaluate a fully-integrated shredding and refining operation.
The world’s insatiable appetite for EVs, a quest deemed noble because of its zero carbon ambitions, is conversely posing increasing risks over the mounting number of end-of-life batteries making their way into landfill.
At least 30 million EVs are forecast to be on European roads by 2030, collectively adding to more than 700,000 tonnes of battery scrap metal. Growing concern over the potential hazardous risks has prompted European regulators to drive automakers to try and “close the loop”.
Pending EU battery regulations require minimum benchmark recoveries of at least 90 per cent nickel, cobalt and copper and 35 per cent lithium, with proposed increases to in excess of 95 per cent nickel, cobalt and copper and 75 per cent lithium by 2030.
Primobius’ latest recoveries from its demonstration trials far exceed the proposed EU regulations, a factor supporting its goal of being a successful first mover in closing the lithium-ion battery circular economy.
The company has already inked a deal with automotive giant Mercedes Benz to design and construct a 2500 tonnes per day battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim in Germany, with construction slated to begin by year’s end.
Across the Atlantic, Primobius has rubber-stamped an agreement with Canadian steelmaker Stelco to commercialise its recycling technology on the North American continent, kicking off with a 50 tonnes per day trial plant at its Lake Erie Works hydrometallurgical refinery in Ontario.
As the old saying goes, necessity is the mother of all invention. With the world’s leading governments regulating the circular economy along the entire battery life cycle, LIB recycling is not only good global stewardship, but is also fast becoming a regulatory necessity.
Neometals, through its Primobius JV, is on the front foot with its patent-pending recycling technology to meet the growing demand.
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By Helen Barling
