Li-ion Battery Recycling Technology

About Li-ion battery recycling technology:

• It is the indigenously developed technology that could process assorted types of discarded Li-ion batteries.
• It has the capacity of recovering more than 95 per cent Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni) contents in the form of their corresponding oxides/carbonates of about 98 per cent purity.
• The recycling process involves leaching followed by hierarchical selective extraction of metal values through the solvent extraction process.
• These secondary raw materials could be used for battery manufacturing or in other potential applications.
• This technology has been developed under the Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management.

Key facts about Lithium

• It is a soft, silvery-white metal that heads group 1, the alkali metals group, of the periodic table of the elements.
• It has the lowest density of all metals and the lightest of the solid elements. 
• It reacts vigorously with water.
• It does not occur as a metal in nature but is found combined in small amounts in igneous rocks.
• Major Reserves: Lithium reserves are concentrated in the lithium triangle in South America – Argentina, Bolivia & Chile, with 50% of the deposits concentrated in these regions.

Q1) What is E-waste?

E-waste, short for electronic waste, refers to discarded electronic devices that have reached the end of their useful life or are no longer wanted by their users. It includes a wide range of electronic items, such as computers, mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and other household appliances.

Source: MeitY transfers cost-effective Li-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling industries and start-ups