Recycling lithium-ion batteries at end of life

RECLIONBAT project

In terms of its ongoing development, S.N.A.M. is focusing on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

As part of the finalising of an innovative process, S.N.A.M. is benefiting from the support of the European Commission, through the LIFE programme, for the period from 1 May 2005 to 31 March 2008. The resulting RecLionBat project is being run in partnership with Floridienne Chimie.

Background and goals

Lithium-ion batteries are used in particular to power mobile phones, portable computers, camcorders, electronic games, etc. When used, they represent a fast growing waste category (3500-4000 tonnes in 2005). Without appropriate recycling technology, in the future we can expect to have environmental and safety problems due to their components (heavy metals, solvents, polymers).

The goal of S.N.A.M's project is to demonstrate the feasibility at pre-industrial scale of a new clean treatment process for lithium-ion batteries at the end of life.

Actions implemented

Based on preparatory work carried out at laboratory scale for several years by S.N.A.M., the project plans the construction and optimisation of a pilot demonstration installation of a technology for recycling Li-Ion batteries that is quite novel and transferable, by thermal means.

Therefore, the setting up of the RecLionBat prototype chain is planned comprising phases of conveyance, sorting, deactivation, breaking, thermal treatment, and crushing. Then, industrial metal separation and recovery tests (lithium, cobalt, etc.) will take place both on the S.N.A.M. site and at Floridienne Chimie, in Belgium. The metals represent about 50% by weight of a battery's constituents, especially lithium and cobalt. Finally, following economic and environmental validation of the results, a communication campaign will be undertaken (trade fairs, website, etc.) directed to all the actors, consumers and industrialists.

Expected results and outlook

We expect the finalising of a pilot unit enabling the treatment of 100 tonnes per year of used batteries as well as the recovery of the metals and their reintroduction into the production circuit.

We plan to draw up recommendations to optimise the management of Li-Ion batteries at the end of life.

Used Li-Ion batteries before and after treatment. Ingots of recycled metal.

Contacts:

Patrick ARCHIER, Patrick Archier, plant director and RecLionBat project manager (patrick.archier@wanadoo.fr)
+33 (0) 565 437 730 or 731 (direct)

Vincent NOYÉ (Vincent.noye@snam.com)
+33 (0) 565 437 730

Links:

For more information on the LIFE programme:

Direction Générale de l'Environnement de la Commission Européenne

Ministère de l'Écologie et du Développement Durable

For more information on rechargeable batteries, in general or Li-Ion:

http://www.ni-cd.net/

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion