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MATERIAL ANALYTICS IN THE AREA

Battery Recycling – Lithium Batteries

Raw Material Recovery of Lithium Salts

Chemical analysis of batteries is crucial as recycling becomes increasingly important. The demand for lithium-ion batteries is steadily rising due to the ongoing discussion around electromobility. Since the lifespan of these valuable batteries is limited, sustainable disposal and raw material recovery are becoming highly significant.

With our comprehensive sample preparation and analysis capabilities, we aim to capture all components of a battery without any losses. We assist you in developing recycling strategies that focus on raw material recovery as well as the disposal of process-related byproducts like wastewater, sludge, and more.

 

Recyclingstrategien Batterien

From Sample Preparation to Analysis

A successful recycling process depends on precise and reliable analysis. The individual processes and requirements of the customer are the top priority. With our expertise, we can support the entire value chain.

  • Electrolyte analysis

  • Solvent analysis

  • Particle size distribution

  • Black mass analysis

  • Sample preparation by grinding, dividing, shredding, centrifuging, extracting, sieving

  • Determination of material composition

 

By determining the material composition of individual fractions (black mass, heavy materials, plastic foil, metal foil, lithium salts, moisture content), we help you achieve maximum raw material recovery.

For Effective Recycling

Reuse of Metals

Just like petroleum, lithium—a crucial resource for producing batteries for cars and smartphones—is finite. Therefore, efficient recycling should be a top priority.

Lithium-ion batteries are composed of metals such as lithium, manganese, iron, nickel, and cobalt. When batteries reach the end of their lifecycle and are shredded, they produce a material known as "black mass."

  • Determination of valuable metals in black mass

  • Achieving a high recycling rate

  • Conservation of resources

  • Recycling of lithium, manganese, iron, nickel, and cobalt

Recycling Lithium,
 Mangan,
 Eisen,
 Nickel und Kobalt

Comprehensive Analytical Capabilities

Whether you need to determine the composition of cations in your batteries or analyze the organic content, we offer (almost) every analytical method you might need.

  • ICP-OES

  • XRF

  • Ion Chromatography (IC)

  • GC-MS

  • Acid-Base Titration

  • Karl Fischer Titration

Your contacts in the area of Batteries

For enquiries about these analyses, please contact our laboratory team at anfrage@industrial-lab.de or get in touch with your contact person:

Stephan Köller

Stephan Köller

Head of Team Inorganics
 02762 9740 - 93
 Send e-mail

Florian Droste

Florian Droste

Head of department
Inorganics / Sample Preparation

 02762 9740 - 74
 Send e-mail

Dr. Caroline Paprott

Dr. Caroline Paprott

Head of department
Organics / REM

 02762 9740 - 28
 Send e-mail

Frequently asked questions about the battery recycling process

Which companies recycle batteries?

All battery dealers are obliged to take back used batteries.

End users are also obliged to return used batteries to dealers, battery collection points, municipal recycling centers or mobile waste collection points.

However, larger battery packs and batteries from electric cars etc. are also returned to the recycling cycle in order to recover their valuable contents. The collected accumulators and batteries are processed by specialized companies in order to recover the valuable elements in specially developed processes so that they can then be reused in new batteries or other products.

How does battery recycling work?

Batteries are recycled in several steps. First, the battery is completely discharged, then the housing and cables are removed. The actual battery or battery block is then mechanically processed, i.e. shredded and separated into the individual fractions. The fractions are separated from each other using various physical processes in a recycling plant, so that the plastic foils, aluminum foils and copper foils are separated from the “heavy parts” such as metal and plastic as well as the “black mass”. The black mass contains valuable elements such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, manganese and graphite, which are then recovered from it.

How is a lithium battery recycled?

A lithium battery consists of several layers.

The battery mainly contains electrolyte, a negatively charged graphite electrode and a positively charged lithium metal oxide electrode. The two electrodes are sandwiched between aluminum and copper foils.

Before a battery goes into the recycling process, it must be completely discharged.

The electricity generated in the process can then be used. The components are then separated from each other using various sorting processes.

The raw materials obtained in this way can then be recycled.

Can lithium be recycled from batteries?

A lithium battery consists of several layers.

The battery mainly contains electrolyte, a negatively charged graphite electrode and a positively charged lithium metal oxide electrode. The two electrodes are sandwiched between aluminum and copper foils.

Before a battery goes into the recycling process, it must be completely discharged.

The electricity generated in the process can then be used. The components are then separated from each other using various sorting processes.

The raw materials obtained in this way can then be recycled.