Graphite is usually excluded from the industrial-scale recovery of the high-value lithium, cobalt and nickel despite being classes as a critical material.
Commercial EV batteries can contain approximately 11 times more graphite than lithium by mass.
The research will look at recovering graphite from the “black mass” contained in EV batteries – a collection of materials which is generated as EV batteries are shredded during the recycling process.
Researchers will explore ways to turn the material into the highest-capacity form of graphite – SiOx – which can be used in applications such as steelmaking, the production of brake linings and to make new pencils.
‘The era of industrial-scale EV battery recycling is already here’
EMR’s managing director for technology and innovation, Roger Morton, said: “At EMR, our team of dedicated recycling experts are proud to have led the way when it comes to end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling – and developing the technologies required for the transition to EVs continues this journey.
“While much of the attention has so far focused on recovering metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel from these vehicles’ high-performance batteries, the quantities of graphite present make finding environmentally friendly and economical ways of recovering this critical material a growing priority.
“The EMR team is very excited to now be working with the University of Birmingham on delivering an effective recycling and recovery strategy which can return this valuable material to the circular economy.
“As the recent arrival of our new Battery Recycling Centre in Birmingham shows, the era of industrial-scale EV battery recycling is already here but this new industry sprint highlights the huge potential that still exists to develop sustainable new technologies and processes that can improve how we operate.”
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