Feasibility Study Into Li Battery Recycling On Track
Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) has confirmed that Primobius GmbH, the joint venture (JV) company owned 50:50 by Neometals and SMS group GmbH, has commenced commissioning of its showcase lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling demonstration plant (DP) in Hilchenbach, Germany.
Primobius is combining Neometals’ unique and sustainable hydrometallurgical LIB recycling technology with SMS groups’ global engineering, plant construction and R&D industrialisation skills.
Following five years of Neometals development, including a comprehensive pilot trial, Primobius has continued commercialisation efforts with significant DP progress achieved. The fully integrated and continuous DP trial constitutes one of the evaluation activities required for the JV owners to make an investment decision relating to construction of the JV’s first commercial recycling plant. Neometals and SMS group have been co-funding the evaluation steps, which will also include subsequent completion of Feasibility Study and the commercial negotiations required to secure LIB feed and product offtake arrangements.
The DP is located in a dedicated building within the SMS group engineering competence centre in Hilchenbach. The trial schedule contemplates commissioning and operation of the ‘Front-end’ Shredding and Beneficiation Circuit first, followed by commissioning of the ‘Back-end’ Hydrometallurgical Refining Circuit. DP LIB feedstocks have been secured from electric vehicle and energy storage system manufacturers and the DP will serve as a showcase for generating evaluation product for potential customers, partners and off- takers. The DP will provide an opportunity for potential partners to verify Primobius’ capability to safely, sustainably and ethically dispose of hazardous LIBs.
Neometals’ Managing Director, Chris Reed, said the DP is permitted to operate at a rate of one tonne per day and the ‘Front-end’ circuit is being ‘powered up’ ahead of dry and then wet testing. Construction of the DP Back-end circuit is almost complete and will follow the same sequence of steps before the DP trial commences in earnest. Approximately [10] tonnes of whole LIB cells are to be shredded during the DP
“We are excited to be commencing our much anticipated recycling demonstration trial. The Primobius and SMS teams have done an exceptional job to keep the timeline tight through a challenging period of global Covid delays,” Mr Reed said.
“As can be seen from the images, this plant is a real showcase of German engineering and we look forward to proving our proprietary flowsheet at larger scale and safely generate product samples promised to our commercial partners under the various commercial evaluation agreements that underpin our battery feedstock and product offtake strategies. We look forward to sharing our progress throughout the trial”.
For further information please visit: http://www.neometals.com.au/
