Recapturing battery raw material value

Battery black
mass recycling
process
 Key drivers for battery
recycling industry
Battery black mass recycling is becoming increasingly important as a
supplement to virgin material supply, as well as a way to reduce the
carbon footprint of the battery supply chain.

With the increasing demand for zero emission vehicles and the
need to create a circular economy, the battery recycling industry is
inevitably set to see new and prosperous growth opportunities.

Transition to electric vehicles and Regulatory initiatives supporting

a net zero economy development and production of
sustainable batteries

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Introducing:
Metso battery black mass recycling process
The Battery Black Mass Recycling Process treats batteries after mechanical separation and optional thermal treatment for
the recovery of nickel, cobalt and lithium, as well as optionally manganese and copper.
The overall objective is to close the loop on battery raw materials through hydrometallurgical processing. Our decades of
process know-how and equipment design enable us to create efficient and responsible methods for recycling and reusing
minerals from decommissioned batteries.

Designed from
Robust proprietary comprehensive testing
technology & researching
capabilities

Tailor made flowsheet Advanced technology

as per feed to convert raw
materials and desired materials into battery
end products grade chemicals

Extensive,
Sustainable
proven experience
recycling & recovery
supporting Lithium,
of raw material back to
Copper, Nickel &
front-end of battery
Cobalt production
value chain
value chain
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Battery black mass recycling process
Industry’s most comprehensive scope of supply
We have the robust proprietary technology, knowhow and insight needed to help improve the efficiency and sustainability of the entire value
chain. Our comprehensive testing and research capabilities help to design the process from the very early stage.
VSF® X solvent extraction technology is the core process along with proprietary OKTOP® reactors, Larox® PF filters, Dual Media (DM) filter,
LSF filter, Thickeners and Scrubbers. The process flowsheet can also be tailored according to the feed materials and desired end products with
possible phased approach, starting with recovering the most valuable metals.

Core
• OKTOP® Reactor Plant Unit
• VSF® X Solvent Extraction
• Larox® PF filters
• LSF Polishing filters
• Dual Media (DM) filters
• Activated Carbon (AC) filters
• Thickening Plant Units
• Scrubbers
Ancillary
• Holo-flite indirect heat exchanger
• Samplers
• Feeding system (partnered)
• Crystallizers (partnered)
• Packing system (partnered)

Enablers
• Courier® analyzer
• Geminex™ metallurgical digital twin
• Metallurgical testing
• Metso plant and process engineering
Services
• Life Cycle Services (LCS)
• Spare parts
• Installation and commissioning services
• Asset maintenance readiness
• Equipment inspections and upgrades
• Training services
• Consignment stock spare part services

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Closer look at the big picture
Typical battery materials processing stages
Washing (optional) Leaching Impurity removal

Battery OKTOP® Reactors Thickeners and Clarifiers

Copper product
black
mass
OKTOP® Reactors Larox® PF Pressure Filter OKTOP® Reactors Larox® PF Pressure Filter

Larox® PF Pressure Filter VSF X® Solvent Extraction

Leach residue Aluminum / iron /

fluoride precipitate

Impurity SX Cobalt SX Nickel SX Lithium recovery

OKTOP® Reactors Thickeners and Clarifiers

Sodium sulfate

VSF X® Solvent Extraction VSF X® Solvent Extraction VSF X® Solvent Extraction

Larox® PF Pressure Filter

Cobalt sulfate product Nickel sulfate product Lithium carbonate product

Manganese recovery

OKTOP® Reactors Thickeners and Clarifiers

Manganese
product

Larox® PF Pressure Filter

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Why choose Battery black mass recycling process?
Pioneering technology Enabling circularity Versatile adaptability

Advanced technologies to convert SupportIing sustainable recycling The flowsheet can be tailored
the raw materials into battery grade and recovery of raw materials back according to the feed materials and
chemicals. to front-end of the battery value desired end product.
chain.

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Sustainable black mass recycling
that helps our planet
The flowsheet contains Planet

>60%
Reduced: Positive core equipment such as:
• VSF® X Solvent Extraction
• >30% CO2 emissions
Plant Unit
• >20% energy
• Filters (Larox® PF filters, Dual
• >20% water pollution Media (DM) filter, LSF filter)
reduction in • >20% air pollution • Thickeners
embedded carbon
Battery black mass recycling process is compared
with the production of virgin nickel sulfate, cobalt
sulfate manganese dioxide and lithium carbonate.

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Metso is a frontrunner in providing sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions
and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries
globally. By helping our customers increase their productivity, improve their energy
and water efficiency and environmental performance with our process and product
expertise, we are the partner for positive change.

© 2023 Metso Corporation. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.4879-09-22-EN-MNG
Metso Corporation, Töölönlahdenkatu 2, FI-00100, Helsinki, Finland
tel. +358 20 484 100
metso.com