Sustainable recycling of battery raw materials

Analytik Jena is a partner in the ZirKat research project, which was launched by Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. The ZirKat project, funded by the EU and the state of Thuringia, is part of a research project to recover raw materials from used lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP batteries). The aim is to develop new methods for recycling battery raw materials and thus contribute to the sustainable production of new batteries.

ZirKat stands for “Circulating raw materials from lithium iron phosphate cathode material for the sustainable use of resources in battery production”. The Thuringian joint project aims to recycle production waste from the manufacture of lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP batteries) back into the production cycle for new batteries. This is done either through mechanical direct recycling or hydrometallurgical processing.

Cooperation in the project is clearly structured. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Michael Rutz, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is coordinating the project with the Thuringian Innovation Center for Recyclable Materials, ThIWert. Analytik Jena is developing methods and measuring systems for the entire process that monitor the quality requirements for the recovered raw materials.

“Using our high-resolution analysis technology, we determine the concentration of the important parameter aluminum, but also other elements in the cathode material, such as lithium, iron and phosphorus. We can measure these values as well as other elements in the low trace range excellently and thus obtain information about the quality of the recovered raw materials,” explains Julian Köhler, Junior Application Specialist and Project Manager at Analytik Jena.

In addition to Analytik Jena, the project also involves various other partners: EAS Batteries GmbH is providing the LFP batteries and is responsible for mechanical processes such as shredding and sorting the batteries. All chemical treatment processes of the cathode material with a focus on lithium are being investigated by K-UTEC AG SALT TECHNOLOGIES, while the thermal processes are being handled by IBU-tec advanced materials AG.

The ZirKat project is a significant step towards a sustainable future and demonstrates the commitment of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and its partners to environmental protection and technological innovation. Analytik Jena is dedicated to sustainability as one of its corporate values and is pleased to support this forward-looking research project.

The project is funded by the research and development project “Thüringen Dynamik” and co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE program 2021-2027).