LIMEX project

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) having a high energy-density are commonly used to provide power to consumer electronics and electric vehicles. In the last years, they have emerged as crucial component of modern energy storage. The storage of renewable energy plays a key role in the global shift toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy economy. Therefore, the demand for lithium (Li), the essential ingredient for LIBs, is increasing exponentially. In addition, the consumption of other metals for batteries, viz. cobalt and nickel, also is increasing. It is well known that mining and ore processing has a negative effect upon the environment. 

These activities generate a large amount of waste, consume resources and can liberate harmful materials into the biosphere. In this context, the LIMEX project proposes an innovative and clean technology for recovering metals from secondary resources such as batteries. The overall objective is to evaluate its technical feasibility and economic and environmental impacts when using solvent extraction and membrane separation for the recovery of target metals from the leach liquors formed during the recycling of spent LIBs. This objective constitutes a real scientific and technical challenge due to complex matrices with different levels of metal concentrations. 

Lithium, Recovery, Battery Recycling, Membrane, Green Solvents 

• CNRS (France)  
• Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)  
• University of Porto (Portugal)  
• Euro Dieuze Industrie (France) 

36 months