Novel solutions for the processing and/or recycling of primary lithium batteries and coin cells

Summary

A UK battery recycling plant has an interest and resources to develop mid-readiness level primary lithium battery recycling technologies to market readiness. Developers of chemistries and processes for primary lithium batteries and all types of coin cells are invited to discuss technical cooperation at the UK site. Said technologies will be matured to market readiness.

Description

A battery recycling company based in the United Kingdom has so far specialised in the processing of alkaline batteries and lead-acid batteries. They have recently won a UK government grant to develop technology for the processing and recycling of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in collaboration with a leading UK University. However, the company has currently no capabilities to process primary lithium batteries and coin cells. There will be space in the factory to prototype this and other primary lithium battery recycling processes.

The company is looking for novel solutions for the processing and/or recycling of primary lithium batteries and coin cells.

On primary lithium batteries, the company would like to speak to technology providers who are scaling up, piloting or operating technologies capable of processing primary lithium batteries. The technology does not need to be off the shelf, it can be set up jointly in the recycling plant in the UK. Mid-readiness technologies are welcome to enquire.

On coin cells, they are interested in any technology which can be used to capture mercury and silver from shredded mixed coin cells. Again, the technology does not need to be off the shelf, but although anything which can be piloted at the recycling plant in the UK is of direct interest. Hydrometallurgical processes capable of capturing mercury, even if not applied in the context of coin cell black mass, are also of interest.

The mid-term type of co-operation is a technical one so that the partners prototype and pilot novel solutions at the UK site. In the longer term, there is potential to establish a more commercial partnership, dependent on the readiness and fit between offered solutions and the in-house developed technology.

Expertise sought

Technologies are sought at mid readiness, for the processing and recycling of primary lithium batteries and coin cells, including for capture of mercury and/or silver found in coin cells.

Requested Partner

Type of partner sought: industry and academia.
Specific area of partner sought: development of recycling chemistries and processes for lithium batteries.
Role of partner sought: interested parties are invited to send a non-confidential description of technologies under development. Ideally, a technical cooperation starts to validate them at the UK site, with a view to prove until market readiness.