LIMEX, Innovative Membrane Extraction of Lithium for Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling.

Important results from the project

New solvent extraction reagents have been made in the project, to increase the sustainability of these reagents methods have been devised to produce them from biomass and to reduce waste production during their production. These new reagents are closely related to existing lithium extraction reagents. The solvent extraction chemistry of lithium and related elements has been studied, this has created a new method for the separation of lithium from calcium and magnesium.

Expected long term effects

The project stimulated the development of sustainable methods of metal purification by solvent extraction. In particular we made an important step towards decoupling solvent extraction from the fossil fuel industry. We were able to prepare metal extraction reagents from biomass and to use sustainable alternatives to petroleum products for the solvent extraction purification of metals. This lead to our development of a biomass based extraction system for the purification of gold. We have moved towards an open source tool for the design and simulation of solvent extraction plants.

Approach and implementation

A postdoc with experience of making organic chemicals was recruited at Chalmers. This postdoc was trained in solvent extraction. This postdoc together with the PI (Mark Foreman) at Chalmers produced new metal extraction agents designed for the recycling of metals which were supplied to our partners in France to support their research. In addition to the synthesis of extraction agents other work to support the development of sustainable recycling processes was performed. This included development of process simulation and the use of biomass derived process chemicals.