A spark of hope for the future of sustainability has come from Sweden! Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have made a significant breakthrough in the recycling of electric vehicle batteries, with an innovative method that promises to transform the industry.

100% recovery of Aluminum and 98% of Lithium

The new method developed by Swedish researchers allows to recover 100% of the aluminum and 98% of the lithium from electric car batteries. This approach not only optimizes the recovery of precious metals, but also avoids the use of expensive and environmentally harmful chemicals.

Martina Petranikova, head of research, emphasizes: “Since the method can be improved, we hope to see it applied in industry in the coming years.”

From Theory to Practice: A New Method of Recycling

Currently, battery recycling relies on hydrometallurgy, which dissolves metals in an inorganic acid and recovers valuable metals like cobalt and lithium, but often with losses. The new Swedish method reverses the traditional order, recovering lithium and aluminum first, while minimizing the loss of nickel, cobalt, and manganese.

Léa Rouquette, a PhD student in Chalmers’ Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, explains: “No one had ever managed to separate out so much lithium using oxalic acid, while also removing all the aluminium.”

An Eco-Friendly and Innovative Process

In the recycling lab, used battery dust is dissolved in oxalic acid, an environmentally friendly ingredient found in plants like rhubarb. This solution dissolves aluminum and lithium, while other metals remain as solids, making it easier to separate and recover lithium to make new batteries.

Rouquette adds: “Our method is a promising avenue for battery recycling and certainly deserves further exploration.”

Collaborations and Future

Petranikova’s research group is already involved in joint projects with companies like Volvo and Northvolt, working to make this innovative recycling method an industrial reality. This advancement represents an ecological breakthrough that could make EV battery recycling more efficient and sustainable.

With these advances, the transition to a greener and more sustainable future seems increasingly achievable. Stay tuned for more updates on how science and technology are shaping our world!