Chapter 11 - Recycleability Flashcards
What is the outlook for supply of Li going forward?
Seems to be adequate (estimated a required 230 ktons of 16000 ktons reserve)
What is the outlook for supply of Ni going forward?
Seems to be adequate (estimated a required 340 ktons of 74000 ktons reserve)
What is the outlook for supply of Co going forward?
A real concern (estimated 910 ktons reserves of 7100 ktons reserves)
Can we expect end of life recycling to contribute much to raw materials in the short run?
No - there is not enough batteries that are ‘ripe’ for recycling yet. Need at least 10 years after initial market penetration.
How much of the world’s reserves of cobalt is in DRC?
3.4 Mtons of a total of 7 Mtons (= 48,6%)
What is the cost break down between materials, labour, pruchased items and captial equipment and building (based on 2014 breakdown of plug-in hybrid battery)?
Materials: 59%
Captial equipment and building: 18%
Purchased items: 16%
Labour: 7%
What is a rough estimate of the wt% of different components in a battery?
Cathode: ~30% Anode: ~20% Electrolyte: ~10% Cell casing: ~5% Pack and module: ~35% Separator: ~4% Tabs: < 1%
How much approximately does the cathode make up of the total battery?
~30 wt%
How much approximately does the anode make up of the total battery
~20 wt%
How much approxmiately does the electrolyte make up of the total battery?
~10 wt%
How much approximately does the pack and module make up of the total battery?
~35 wt%
How much approximately does the cell casing make up of the total battery?
~5 wt%
How much approximately do the separators make up of the total battery?
~4%
How much approximately does the tabs make up of the total battery?
< 1 %
What is a large obstacle for recycling in terms of compositions?
No standard for composition of electrodes. Not disclosed by manufacturers. Can’t standardise recycling process for a handful of standards, but must instead make a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
How does the different recycling methods compare to virgin materials production (of e.g. LCO) in terms of SOx emissions?
Virgin material generally produced from sulfide ores. Initial production is emission intensive.
All recycling processes reduce SOx emissions quite substantially.
What are some advantages of pyrometallurgy?
- Flexible process input (can handle batteries of mixed cathode composition)
- No sorting or size reduction
- Profit from recovery of Co, Ni, Cu
- SOx emissions from metal production is avoided
- Commercially viable now
What are some disadvantages of pyrometallurgy?
- Li, Al go to slag
- Organics burned
- Additional processing needed to separate metals
- Expensive gas treatment
- High temperature process
- Captial intensive
- Requires high volume
- Not useful for LFP
What is pyrometallurgy?
Smelting the incoming material to extract the metal.
What is the main cost driver for pyrometallurgy?
Gas treatment to prevent relase of fluorine compounds and harmful organics.
What is hydrometallurgy?
Extraction into a liquid.
What are some advantages of hydrometallurgy?
- Substrate foils recovered directly
- Low temperature, low energy
- Li can be recovered, as well as TM
- Output can be converted to cathode precursors
- Can be used for the mix of cathodes
- Can be used for prompt scrap
What are some disadvantages of hydrometallurgy?
- Requires size reduction
- Acid breaks down cathode structure
- No valuable product from LFP
- Solvent extraction needed to separate Co and Ni (or use mixture)
What are some advantages of direct recycling?
- Retains valuable cathode structure
- Can also recover anode, electrolyte and foils
- Can be used for LFP and LMO cathodes
- Could be used now for prompt scrap, low volumes
- Low temperature, low energy
- Avoids most impacts of virgin material production
