Spanish research group unveils TSIL technology to extract metals from batteries

MADRID (Scrap Monster) : The Spanish firm Tecnalia plans to run pilot runs of its latest technology to extract valuable metals from used batteries. The plans to run the pilot recycling project at battery recycling plants. The project makes use of task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) to extract nickel, lithium, cobalt and lanthanides from batteries.

According to the company press release, the TSILs used would be low-cost, non-toxic, environment-friendly and would require zero or minimal processing to reuse them. It intends to upgrade the battery recycling process by using specialized equipment to scale up to the pilot system. The pilots will be operated in an industrial setting at battery recycling plants and demonstrated to the wider recycling and battery communities.

The company claims that the TSIL technology would lead to considerable reduction of landfill waste through recovery of high purity metals which can be recycled. The recovered metals can be even recycled into new batteries. Recovered nickel can be used to produce lower value stainless steel. The use of hydrometallurgical processes would reduce carbon emissions and save energy.

Formed in 2001, Tecnalia Corporation is a technology corporation whose main objective is to contribute to the development of economic and social environment through the use and promotion of innovative technology.