Rice University Develops Microwave Plasma Process to Enhance Battery Recycling Efficiency
Researchers at Rice University, Texas, have developed a microwave plasma process that significantly improves battery recycling by enabling the recovery of nearly 95% of metals, including lithium, from battery black mass using mild acids. The method enhances the recovery of graphite, which constitutes about 22% of a battery's weight, overcoming limitations of current energy-intensive recycling protocols that focus primarily on cathodes.
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A new microwave plasma process developed at Rice University, Texas, enhances battery recycling efficiency by allowing the recovery of nearly 95% of metals from battery black mass. Traditional methods rely on shredding batteries into black mass, which contains essential minerals like lithium and graphite, but often result in low recovery rates and damage to graphite. The new process, detailed in Advanced Materials, utilizes mild acids to extract lithium and regenerate graphite, addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods that typically require high temperatures and strong acids.
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