Name of the Project
Lithium-ion battery recycling operation.

Location
Germany.

Project Owner/s
Primobius, a joint venture (JV) between Neometals and SMS Group.

Project Description
The project envisages construction of a 50 t/d commercial scale lithium-ion battery recycling plant, based on successful pilot plant trials of Neometals’ proprietary hydrometallurgical flowsheet.

The recycling plant flowsheet, which has been tested at pilot scale, comprises a battery preparation and shredding section to remove metal casings, foils and plastics in the feed preparation facility, and a leaching, recovery and refining section that will deliver chemical products using the hydrometallurgical processing facility.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Capital costs are estimated at €150-million, including a 10% contingency.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Primobius has successfully commissioned the front-end shredding and beneficiation circuit of its showcase lithium-ion battery recycling demonstration plant.

Neometals and SMS last year struck a JV agreement to commercialise Neometals’ lithium battery recycling process.

Primobius will use the Neometals recycling technology to recover lithium, nickel, cobalt and other materials from spent and scrap electric-vehicle and consumer electronics.

The demonstration plant comprises a fully constructed ‘front-end’ shredding and beneficiation circuit, known as Stage 1, and a ‘back-end’ hydrometallurgical refining circuit, known as Stage 2, which is progressing through mechanical and electrical installation.

Front-end commissioning included charging up the circuit, and processing dummy and charged electric vehicle lithium-iron batteries to generate plastic, steel and foil product streams, together with about 1.5 t of intermediate active material.

The fully integrated and continuous demonstration plant trial constitutes one of the key evaluation activities required for the JV owners to make an investment decision pertaining to the construction of Primobius’ first commercial lithium-iron battery recycling plant.

Commissioning of the hydrometallurgical refining circuit is expected in September, with all trials due for completion by November.

The refinery circuits will be sequentially dry and wet commissioned before intermediate active material is processed in two campaigns.

The hydrometallurgical refining circuit will produce, besides other products, high-purity metal sulphate products for evaluation by potential customers, partners and offtakers.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Strategic Metallurgy (mass-energy balance study) and Primero Group (process design criteria, equipment selection and layout).

Contact Details for Project Information
Neometals, tel +61 8 9322 1182 or email info@neometals.com.au.