The secondary raw materials could be used for battery manufacturing or in other potential applications
Under the ‘Promote Circularity Campaign’ of Mission LiFE, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently transferred “cost-effective” Li-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling industries and start-ups. The newly-developed tech could process assorted types of discarded Li-ion batteries and recover crucial elements like Lithium, Cobalt, Manganese and Nickel in their oxides/carbonates forms. These secondary raw materials could be used for battery manufacturing or in other potential applications, read the official press release from the ministry.
MeitY has developed this technology under the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on E-waste management set up at the Hyderabad-based Centre for Material for Electronics Technology (C-MET) in collaboration with the industry partner, M/s Greenko Energies Pvt. Ltd. and the Government of Telangana.
The novelty of the indigenously developed technology could recover over 95% Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni) contents in the form of their corresponding oxides/carbonates of nearly 98% purity. The recycling process involves leaching followed by hierarchical selective extraction of metal values through the solvent extraction process.
It is noteworthy that NITI Aayog has chosen 11 verticals of circular economy and MeitY plays an integral part in showcasing the outcome of technology development. Commending the laudable efforts by MeitY, NITI Aayog CEO, Sh B.V.R. Subrahmanyam conveyed the importance of the CoE model of translational R&D, where the partner industry works along with from the very problem stage.
Mentioning the special effort of the Government of Telangana and Greenko Energies, MeitY Secretary Sh Alkesh Kumar Sharma appreciated the effort of Centre of Excellence (CoE) on E-waste Management, C-MET, Hyderabad for developing low-cost technology for local recycling industries and start-ups. PIB reported that he also lauded C-MET scientists for venturing into niche technology development like hafnium metal sponge from effluents, which is available only in a few countries.
