Lithium-ion Batteries Recycling

Context

Nemaska Lithium is building a commercial lithium salt production plant in Shawinigan to commence operations in the second half of 2019. In parallel, the lithium-ion battery market is in very high growth with applications in smart phones, laptops, tools and transport vehicles.
Small-format batteries are currently being recovered under a broader producer liability commitment (EPR) and collection systems are located in municipalities and businesses. These programs are used to recover 6% of the approximately 120 million batteries consumed in Quebec and to sort them at Laurentide Re-Sources in Victoriaville. An Ontario plant recycles alkaline batteries and investigates the possibility of treating the
Li-ion batteries that are currently being shipped to Ontario and British Columbia in facilities for cobalt recovery.

Description of the challenge

Rechargeable batteries can take several forms: prismatic, laminated and cylindrical. Cylindrical batteries are often assembled to deliver more power or to lengthen the use period between two loads. All batteries consist of an anode, a cathode and between them an electrolyte with a separator. The cathode contains metal elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese that are deposited on an aluminum film.
Successive layers of this assembly are stacked and rolled to form the heart of the batteries. To recycle the batteries, they must be dismantled by first removing the casing (metal, plastic) and then separating the three components. Effective separation of the cathode will be a key element in order to enable the development of the constituents. The cathode and its aluminum support must be crushed to produce a powder of which
Nemaska lithium can extract lithium and other metal elements. These metal elements may find opportunities in foundries or other metallurgical processing centers.

Constraint(s)

The dismantling and crushing site may be located near major consumer centers, recyclable battery collection centers or Shawinigan. Nemaska Lithium will promote the development of a local or regional company that can also benefit from the contribution of regional economic development partners.
Collaboration with the Nemaska Lithium team will be required to ensure that the characteristics of the metal powder match the Nemaska Lithium process capabilities to extract lithium in the best possible conditions.

Estimated duration of the project:To be determined