The lithium battery market has rapidly increased over the years, especially for the application of electrical vehicles. Electrical vehicle batteries contain solvents, plastics, and electronic components as well as metals such as cobalt, nickel and lithium. Lithium batteries that are beyond their lifecycle will be packed and shipped to a specialist battery recycling plant. The growing demand has forced companies to priorities battery recycling to recover rare essential metals.
In battery recycling the batteries are first discharged for safety purposes, then the battery is dismantled to gain access to the cells which contain the metals. The cells are then crushed to expose and recover the metals which leaves a black powder known as black mass. For the metals to be recovered, the black mass goes through a process known as hydrometallurgy, this process produces water containing organic solvents and electrolytes. As more battery batches are treated, the organic content levels in the water rise and the organics need to be removed for water reuse.
Rhys Davies
Wastewater consultant
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A client approached Arvia to assist with cleaning the water used in a battery recycling plant. The aim was to reduce the Total Organic Carbon (TOC ) level in the water by 90% to allow the water to be reused. The client had previously considered the use of Fentons, a water treatment process which uses chemical dosing to create the necessary hydroxyl radical. However, this method produces Hydrogen Fluoride gas which is extremely corrosive gas. If this gas is breathed in at high levels it can cause an immediate damaging effect on health. Exposure requires immediate medical attention and can cause blindness as it rapidly destroys the corneas.
The organics found in lithium battery wastewater include:
• Dimethyl carbonate
• Ethyl methyl carbonate
• Diethyl carbonate
• Ethylene carbonate
• Cyclohexylbenzene
• Ethylene glycol
Energy company, The Netherlands
Arvia’s Nyex Ellenox™ system was deployed for this application. Nyex Ellenox™ is an electrochemical oxidation process that produces powerful hydroxyl radicals (·OH) that destroys the organics. The industrial water treatment process is effective for wastewater recycling as all the organic pollutants are removed to allow for efficient wastewater recycling to take place. This is cheaper and more environmentally friendly process and is a simple hands-off process compared with Fentons or offsite incineration.
The Nyex Ellenox™ system can be used to remove organics to allow for safe discharge of effluent or water reuse, if you have a zero liquid discharge target.
Tell us what organic compounds you need to remove from your water and our consultants will give their recommended approach which might involve:
We worked very closely with the client to understand their process and decide the most suitable level of organics that the Ellenox system should remove. The number of times the water is recycled through the dunking, crushing, and washing loop was then decided. Arvia carried out an experimental program of work to remove organics from this battery wastewater. 95% TOC was successfully destroyed from an 11g/L TOC, exceeding the client’s target.
Ellenox can remove inlet TOC levels which then allows processes like reverse osmosis (RO) to be used downstream, to recover electrolytes such as lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6).
Ellenox does not generate any toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas unlike Fenton’s.
Through our experience dealing with clients involved in battery recycling, we are confident that our technology can efficiently remove organic contaminants in process water so that it can be reused. Ellenox can deal with variation in organic levels to suit the client requirements.
We have proven the Ellenox to be an extremely effective solution for the destruction of organics associated with battery recycling, to allow for water reuse.
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We help specialty chemical companies clean their process water, removing active ingredients, biocides, recalcitrant COD and micropollutants.
Our industrial wastewater treatment process is very effective in removing organic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.
We provide industrial wastewater treatment solutions removing biocides and other micropollutants in wash water and blowdown water.
Our aquaculture wastewater treatment removes pesticides used to treat sea lice, as well as medicines and off-flavours found in RAS facilities.
