Innovative system for recycling lithium-ion batteries

Electromobility Innovative system for recycling lithium-ion batteries

2024-09-02 From Stefanie Eckardt | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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When an electric vehicle has reached the end of its life, it must be disposed of properly. This is not a problem when it comes to the bodywork, seats or fittings—these can be easily recycled. Batteries contain valuable raw materials, but recycling them is not easy. A spin-off from Graz University of Technology is working on a new recycling process under the name ProtectLiB.

The founders of ProtectLib - Tobias Kopp, Chris Pichler and Jürgen Abraham (nlnr.) are working on the cost-effective and environmentally friendly recycling of valuable battery raw materials.(Image: Graz University of Technology) — The founders of ProtectLib - Tobias Kopp, Chris Pichler and Jürgen Abraham (nlnr.) are working on the cost-effective and environmentally friendly recycling of valuable battery raw materials.
(Image: Graz University of Technology)

Electric vehicle batteries are real power packs that can power an electric vehicle for hundreds of kilometers. But what happens to them when the electric vehicle has reached the end of its life? After all, handling batteries is not without danger because they are susceptible to damage and can cause fires. However, they do contain valuable raw materials.

Safe recycling

The solution is obvious: recycling. But this is not as easy as it sounds. Only a few waste disposal companies have facilities for recycling lithium-ion batteries. However, taking the old batteries there is dangerous. This requires dedicated, secure transportation, which in turn is cost-intensive.

A spin-off from Graz University of Technology is tackling this problem. Jürgen Abraham, Tobias Kopp and Chris Pichler are working on a new solution as part of a spin-off from the University of Graz at the UniCorn start-up incubator. Under the name "ProtectLiB", they have developed a patented recycling process in the form of a compact recycling plant. It is the size of an ordinary container so that vehicle batteries can be processed directly on site. "We can separate lithium, cobalt and nickel from the liquid electrolytes. In contrast to existing processes, we can do this without heat," says Kopp, explaining the added value of the new development. This is a considerable advantage, as the residual materials are no longer hazardous and can therefore be processed and transported much more cheaply.

First prototype available

The first prototype is on the university campus and is ready for use. The founders are currently concentrating on batteries from the automotive sector. Cell phone or laptop batteries are initially excluded, as each battery has a different chemical composition. "It's not easy to implement a single solution for everyone," explains Kopp.

The spin-off has already acquired its first customer, which is based in the south of Graz. "Battery prototypes for transportation are being developed there. In future, the company wants to recycle these directly on site using ProtectLib's technology," says Kopp. (se)

Porsche has built a battery storage using used batteries at its Leipzig plant in eastern part of Germany. (Image:Porsche)

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