Project DiRecFM - Direct recycling of LIB functional materials

Growing awareness of sustainability has driven the development of renewable energies and energy storage solutions. High production volumes and scrap rates lead to enormous material requirements. Raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel are particularly relevant for lithium-ion batteries.
The aim of the project, which is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, is to examine approaches for the function-preserving recovery of active material through the direct recycling of battery electrodes. The concept developed at wbk involves mechanically removing the active material from the metal foil by brushing. A test rig illustrates the possible implementation of continuous processing using a sword brush.
The tests successfully demonstrate the feasibility of direct recycling with a high recovery rate.