According to foreign media reports, the students of chemical engineering at Michigan Polytechnic University used the mineral processing method of the millennium ago to find an economical solution for recycling lithium-ion batteries. The research team used two mining technologies to separate the batteries. The various components: outer casing, metal foil material and anode, cathode coating. They use standard gravity separation (gravity beneficiation) technology to separate copper from aluminum, and then use foam flotation to restore key materials, including: Graphite, lithium and cobalt. This type of mining technology is currently the cheapest technology, and the required infrastructure is in place. The project has also received funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency for $15,000. See the text.
According to foreign media reports, the students of chemical engineering at Michigan University of Technology used the century-old mineral processing method to find an economical solution for lithium-ion battery recycling.
The research team used two mining technologies to separate the components in the battery: housing, metal foil material and anode, cathode coating.
The biggest advantage of this process is that it is cheap and energy efficient. In order to remanufacture the battery, the recycled material is as good as the initial material and the price is cheaper.
The team saw the opportunity to use existing technology to solve the gradual challenges (battery material scarcity, undersupply, high price, etc.). They used standard gravity separations (standard gravity separations) technology to Aluminium separation, followed by froth flotation to reduce key materials, including: graphite, lithium and cobalt. This type of mining technology is currently the cheapest technology, and the required infrastructure is in place.
To further advance the research, the Michigan Institute of Technology's Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Innovation Hub provides financial support.
In addition, the project received funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency for $15,000.
