Battery production is growing rapidly to meet the strong demand
and use in diverse applications such as portable electronics and
electric vehicles. Therefore, considerable attention is paid to
ensuring the sustainability of the critical raw materials used in their
production, given limited natural reserves and their distribution.
Lithium and cobalt are considered critical raw materials because
they are in short supply, but also strategic because they are
essential for the energy transition. Currently, only 5% of lithium is
recycled globally.
In nature, extracting one ton of lithium requires 250 tons of
environmentally harmful minerals or 750 tons of brine, and current
technologies for recycling these metals are very expensive and
polluting.
The rapid expansion of electric mobility and the increasing demand
for lithium-ion batteries have intensified the global challenge of
ensuring sustainable access to critical raw materials. Among these
critical raw materials, lithium stands at the core of modern energy
storage. As battery production rises, so does the imperative to
recover lithium efficiently and responsibly from end-of-life cells.
MICROWAVE PROCESSING AT THE CORE
A central element of this breakthrough lies in the use of the PYRO Advanced Microwave Muffle Furnace. Thanks to its ability to deliver rapid, homogeneous and precisely controlled heating, the PYRO system enabled the team at the University of Brescia to induce a targeted transformation inside the black mass. The BM naturally contains graphite, which becomes an active agent when exposed to microwaves. Under PYRO’s microwave irradiation, the graphite initiates a carbothermic reduction, converting the lithium-containing compounds into lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). This microwave-enabled shift in phase composition represents the true turning point of the methodology. It offers a valuable alternative to aggressive chemical leaching, by assuring an advanced microwave heating, accurate temperature control, and high operator safety. With PYRO, the University of Brescia researchers were able to bypass limitations of hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy and implement a remarkably clean extraction step.
LEACHING STRATEGY
Following microwave treatment, the team performed a simple
aqueous leaching, using nothing more than deionized water at
controlled conditions. This step selectively dissolves black mass,
leaving behind the transition metals (Co, Ni, Mn) and carbon matrix.
The results are striking:
- Up to 85% lithium recovery, significantly higher than untreated BM
- Performance exceeding the 80% effi ciency requirement set by the EU Battery Regulation for 2031
- Zero use of strong mineral acids
- Minimal waste generation and low operational risk
Milestone™ SpA
Via Fatebenefratelli 1/5 - 24010 Sorisole (BG) - Italy
Teléfono: +39 035.573857 | Fax: +39 035.575498
Via Fatebenefratelli 1/5 - 24010 Sorisole (BG) - Italy
Teléfono: +39 035.573857 | Fax: +39 035.575498
Milestone™ SpA
Via Fatebenefratelli 1/5 - 24010 Sorisole (BG) - Italy
Teléfono: +39 035.573857 | Fax: +39 035.575498
Via Fatebenefratelli 1/5 - 24010 Sorisole (BG) - Italy
Teléfono: +39 035.573857 | Fax: +39 035.575498