Blockchain Press Releases
IDTechEx Discusses the Key Technologies Players Are Using in Li-Ion Battery Recycling
BOSTON, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Li-ion batteries are widely used in various markets, such as in consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage. However, as demand for Li-ion batteries continues to increase, the need to manage their sustainability through their entire lifecycle, including at end-of-life (EOL), is also becoming increasingly important. At end-of-life, Li-ion batteries can be recycled to re-obtain the contained valuable metals, such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Depending on the recycling technique employed, products from these processes may need further refining or processing to enable their re-introduction into new battery manufacturing. In their latest report, “Li-ion Battery Recycling Market 2023-2043“, IDTechEx discuss and analyze three key recycling technologies being employed by players commercially, including mechanical, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling.
Mechanical Recycling
Mechanical processing is the simplest technique, which is employed by many players globally, and is typically the initial step in Li-ion battery recycling. This often starts with a disassembly step, which is performed manually due to differences in EV battery pack design and requires a skilled workforce to achieve this. Typical steps thereafter include shredding, grinding, and crushing. This breaks down the high-value materials, separates them from foils and casing, and is performed in an inert atmosphere. Often, sieving is used to separate larger fragments of current collectors, casings, and separators from electrode materials, which are constructed of very fine powders. This results in the production of black mass, which requires further refining via hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical processing to produce battery-grade metal salts. The majority of players in Europe and North America currently only have mechanical recycling capabilities. Therefore, most of these recyclers do not currently have the capabilities to produce battery-grade materials that are ready to be introduced into new battery manufacturing. This black mass is typically transported to recyclers in the Asia-Pacific region that have these capabilities.
Pyrometallurgical Recycling
Pyrometallurgy refers to the use of heat to extract battery materials, typically performed at high throughput in an electric arc or shaft furnace. Advantages to the process include little pre-treatment requirements, and that it is battery chemistry agnostic, and so can receive various metal-containing waste streams as feedstock, such as NiMH, Ni-Cd and Li-ion batteries. However, the process has high-capital requirements and is also energy intensive while requiring off-gas cleaning. Pyrometallurgy produces a mixed metal alloy, as well as a slag stream, containing lithium, manganese, and aluminum. Therefore, this would still require further hydrometallurgical processing if all valuable metals were to be re-obtained at battery grade.
Hydrometallurgical Recycling
Hydrometallurgical techniques can be used to recycle black mass directly or refine alloys produced from pyrometallurgy to form battery-grade metal salts. These salts can be re-introduced into new cathode precursor manufacturing and are, therefore, of higher value than black mass produced from mechanical recycling. In hydrometallurgical recycling, leaching, solvent extraction, or precipitation steps can be employed to selectively extract metals such as nickel and cobalt from black mass produced by mechanical recycling in the form of battery-grade salts. The key benefits of hydrometallurgical recycling are that more of the valuable metals can be recovered, and it is less energy intensive than pyrometallurgical recycling. However, the costs of reagents and high volumes of water consumption pose some downsides. Though, through interviews with IDTechEx, some recyclers have commented that they are able to cycle water multiple times through the recycling process to maximize its efficiency.
Currently, the majority of hydrometallurgical recycling capacity resides in the Asia-Pacific region, including key players such as SungEel HiTech, Exigo Recycling and ACE Green Recycling. However, players in Europe and the US recognize the benefits of hydrometallurgical processing and are in the process of expanding their hydrometallurgical capacities. Fortum recently commenced commercial operations of its hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland. This marks the first commercial-scale facility in Europe for hydrometallurgical recycling. In the US, Li-Cycle are planning to establish their own commercial-scale hydrometallurgical plant too.
Other Techniques
While these are generally the three most developed processes used by Li-ion battery recycling players, other routes are being explored. Namely direct recycling is a technique that involves mechanical pre-processing and component separation steps, followed by reactivating the battery material to recover the capacity lost during cycling, but without breaking down the crystal structure of the cathode material. However, this is a pre-commercialized technology being investigated by research bodies on a more lab-scale basis.
Concluding Remarks
Battery manufacturers are keen to source materials produced from recycling to mitigate against fluctuating metal prices and to domesticate material supply. As the volume of end-of-life Li-ion batteries continues to grow, recyclers will continue to scale up their recycling capacities through the construction of new plants to meet recycling demand. By recycling Li-ion batteries via hydrometallurgical processing, recyclers can produce battery-grade metal salts, which can be utilized in new battery manufacturing. Growth in both hydrometallurgical and mechanical recycling capacities will be seen across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Recyclers in Europe and North America will start establishing commercial-scale hydrometallurgical recycling facilities in order to produce higher-value battery-grade metal salts rather than the black mass they have generally and historically produced. This will provide opportunities for battery manufacturers in these regions to start domesticating their material supply for new battery manufacturing while reducing risks related to raw material supply and fluctuating costs.
For more on technologies, key players, policies, economics, and granular 20-year recycling market forecasts, please refer to IDTechEx’s latest report, “Li-ion Battery Recycling Market 2023-2043“.
About IDTechEx
IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.
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Blockchain
Binance Announces Adjustment of Tick Size for Spot Trading Pairs
Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has announced adjustments to the tick size (the minimum change in the unit price) of specific spot trading pairs. These adjustments are aimed at enhancing market liquidity and improving the overall trading experience for users. The changes are scheduled to be completed by 05:00 (UTC) and 07:00 (UTC) on May 23, 2024.
Traders can find details about the tick sizes of all spot trading pairs on Binance in the platform’s Trading Rules. Importantly, the adjustment will not impact spot trading and related functionalities. API users will also observe changes in the tick size, and they can stay updated with the latest tick size using the GET /api/v3/exchangeInfo endpoint. Additional details and updates can be found in the API Changelog.
Existing spot orders will not be affected by the tick size update. Orders placed before the update will continue to be matched with the original tick size. However, traders are advised to adjust their trading strategies accordingly to avoid any unnecessary impact on their trading activities.
Binance emphasizes the importance of referencing the English version of the announcement for the most accurate and up-to-date information, as there may be discrepancies in translated versions. The exchange remains committed to providing a seamless trading experience and appreciates the support of its users. Users are reminded to exercise caution and make informed decisions when trading on the platform.
Source: blockchain.news
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Blockchain
OKX Announces Support for New USDC Spot Trading Pairs
According to an official announcement released on May 16, 2024, OKX will introduce new USDC trading pairs in the spot trading section between 7:00 am and 8:00 am UTC on May 20, 2024. This addition aims to broaden trading options for OKX users and contribute to the expanding USDC ecosystem.
In light of the risks associated with digital asset trading, OKX has issued a cautionary note to all users. They emphasize that information provided by OKX and third parties is for informational and educational purposes only. OKX does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information and does not provide financial, investment, or other forms of advice.
OKX highlights the speculative nature and high volatility of digital assets, cautioning that they may become illiquid at any time, potentially resulting in the loss of the entire investment. Therefore, OKX advises users to conduct thorough research and assess their risk tolerance before engaging in digital asset trading.
For inquiries regarding the new USDC spot trading pairs or any other concerns, users can contact OKX through their support center or engage with the OKX team on various platforms. OKX’s proactive approach in addressing user inquiries and fostering community interaction underscores its commitment to user satisfaction and the overall growth of the crypto ecosystem.
Source: blockchain.news
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Blockchain
ShibaSwap rolls out major upgrade, moves to Shibarium
ShibaSwap, the decentralized exchange (DEX) affiliated with the Shiba Inu ecosystem, has announced a significant upgrade by migrating to the Shibarium blockchain. This move is expected to introduce a range of new utilities for users, as stated in a recent press release.
The upgrade includes features such as a revamped dashboard, enhanced user experience, discovery charts for trending tokens, and an improved process for onboarding new tokens onto the DEX.
Lead developer Shytoshi Kusama expressed enthusiasm for the upgrade, highlighting its potential to empower DEFI innovators and facilitate community token interaction on Shibarium. Kusama also invited the community to explore the new swap and encouraged existing Shibarium tokens to transition to the platform seamlessly, while assuring that further updates are in the pipeline.
A portion of transaction fees will be utilized to enhance liquidity pool (LP) value in swap transactions, benefiting users and the yield farming community, according to the press release.
The upgrade rollout will prioritize enhancing discovery and can be expected to include more regular updates and upgrades, as noted by fellow developer and contributor Kaal.
The upgrade aims to minimize gas fees and ensure faster transactions, in addition to supporting various segments of the Shiba Inu Ecosystem, including $SHIB and $LEASH tokens, SHEboshis DN-404 tokens, SHIB The Metaverse, ShibaSwap DEX, and the Shiba Eternity game.
Shibarium’s layer 2 mainnet, launched in August 2023, saw the creation of 21 million wallets and was trialed by millions of users. It introduced a new consensus mechanism called proof-of-participation (PoP), which selects validators based on their holdings of the associated cryptocurrency.
As of the latest data, the price of SHIB stands at $0.0002548, reflecting an almost 7% increase in the last 24 hours, with SHIB being the 11th largest in terms of market cap, according to CoinMarketCap.
Source: cointelegraph.com
The post ShibaSwap rolls out major upgrade, moves to Shibarium appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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