Kemetco to perform proof-of-concept testing on American Manganese Li-ion cathode recycling process
06 June 2016
American Manganese has contracted Kemetco Research to perform proof-of-concept testing of the company’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process for the recycling of cathode materials of Li-ion batteries from electric-drive vehicles (EDVs).
There is currently no known commercial technology for large scale recycling of cathode materials of multiple chemistries. Spent cathode materials represent an ideal feedstock to be processed with American Manganese’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process.
—Norman Chow, President of Kemetco Research
Currently, the demand for lithium for use in electric vehicle battery cathode materials is outstripping the available supply. The price of lithium carbonate feedstock in North America at present is about US $6,400/tonne. Recently reported Chinese spot prices have been triple this amount, according to the company.
One factor driving demand is that the first generation EDV batteries are reaching the end of their life cycle. Recycling International reports that 276,000 electric drive vehicle batteries expired or left service by in 2015. It estimates that this number will increase to 358,000 by 2020 and 849,000 by 2025. These spent batteries are a growing feedstock for recycling and upcycling efforts.
Larry W. Reaugh, American Manganese president and CEO, said that the company’s patented hydrometallurgical manganese extraction process is well suited to recycle and produce any or all of the high value-added cathode materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
'There is currently no known commercial technology for large scale recycling of cathode materials of multiple chemistries.'
That is interesting, as the common notion is that recycling is up and running.
I think recycling bits and pieces and full recycling are being confounded, and bench top stuff with commercial scale.
Posted by: Davemart | 06 June 2016 at 02:49 AM