Recycling electric vehicle batteries

Recycling electric vehicle batteries: Since 2019, the TYBET team has developed advanced technology for the technical assessment, disassembly, discharge, and recycling of fractions derived from electric vehicle batteries. Currently, the company is fully authorized for the collection, handling, storage, and treatment of waste batteries from electric vehicles. We also operate a state-of-the-art facility — RECYCLING LITHIUM-ION ELECTRIC CAR BATTERY — spanning 10,000 square meters, equipped with systems for separating all constituent elements of lithium-ion batteries (electrolyte, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, cobalt, nickel, copper).

Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling electric vehicle batteries process

Recycling electric vehicle batteries – lithium-ion batteries-  is a complex process involving multiple stages, from collecting used batteries to recovering valuable materials that can be reused. Below is a detailed description of the process:

Collection and disassembly

• Collection: Used batteries are collected from recycling centers, auto service units, or directly from manufacturers and users.
• Temporary storage: Batteries are temporarily stored under safe conditions to prevent accidents, as they may still hold a partial charge and pose a fire risk.
• Disassembly: The batteries are dismantled, which involves opening the casing and separating battery modules and individual cells. This step may be performed manually or automated depending on available technology.

Deactivation and discharge

• Deactivation: Batteries are deactivated to eliminate the risk of short circuits or explosions, typically by fully discharging the remaining energy.
• Electrolyte neutralization: The liquid electrolytes in the batteries, which can be flammable or toxic, are neutralized to prevent the release of harmful substances.

Mechanical processing

• Fragmentation: After disassembly, battery components are ground in a mechanical fragmentation process. This step breaks the batteries into smaller parts to facilitate material separation.
• Material separation: Following fragmentation, mechanical or gravitational methods are used to separate different materials, such as aluminum, copper, steel, and active materials (cathode and anode).

Chemical processing

• Pyrometallurgy: Some processes involve heating the fragmented materials to very high temperatures to melt and separate the metals. This method is often used to recover cobalt, nickel, and copper.
• Hydrometallurgy: This process uses acidic or alkaline solutions to dissolve valuable metals from the cathode powder. Once dissolved, these metals can be precipitated and recovered as pure salts, such as lithium sulfate or cobalt sulfate.
• Electrolysis: In some cases, metals can be recovered through electrolysis, where an electric current is used to separate metals from ionic solutions.

Material recovery and purification

• Lithium: Lithium is typically recovered as lithium carbonate or lithium sulfate, which can be further purified and used to produce new battery cells.
• Cobalt and nickel: These metals are recovered and purified for reuse in new battery manufacturing or other industrial applications.
• Graphite and aluminum: Graphite and aluminum from battery anodes and casings can also be recovered and recycled.

Reuse and remanufacturing

• Battery remanufacturing: Recovered materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are used to produce new lithium-ion batteries, thereby reducing the need to extract new resources.
• Reuse in other industries: The metals and other recovered materials can also be utilized in other industries, such as electronics or metallurgy.

Waste management and environmental impact

• Residual waste treatment: Materials that cannot be recycled are treated properly to minimize environmental impact. This includes neutralizing chemical residues and safely disposing of them.
• Minimizing ecological impact: By recycling, the carbon footprint and environmental impact of used batteries are reduced, contributing to a more sustainable life cycle for batteries.