Page 160 - CW E-Magazine (12-12-2023)

News from Abroad

CLOSING THE LOOP
Rock Tech and Electra announce lithium recycling

collaboration

Canada’s Rock Tech Lithium has proprietary hydrometallurgical process
signed a memorandum of understand- to recycle black mass on a plant scale
ing with Electra Battery Materials Cor- setting, recovering nickel-cobalt mixed
poration for the development of a part- hydroxide precipitate (MHP), lithium
nership to supply recycled lithium from carbonate, graphite and other commer-
Electra’s Ontario battery recycling ope- cial products.
rations for upgrading to battery-grade In May 2023, Electra announced its
lithium chemicals in Rock Tech’s lithium intention to form a joint venture with the
refineries.
cessing. Rock Tech will upgrade the lith- Three Fires Group to source and process
The companies will leverage their ium to battery-grade lithium chemicals lithium-ion battery waste generated by
processing expertise to develop a sus- at its planned lithium converters. This manufacturers of current and future bat-
tainable closed-loop service offering upgrading step is essential to achieve tery cells, electric vehicles, and energy
for the recycling of lithium-ion battery the quality and purity required to qualify storage systems. Battery waste would be
manufacturing scrap, end-of-life batteries the final lithium product for re-use in the processed at a facility to be located in
and black mass. manufacturing process of new batteries. southern Ontario to produce black mass
feed material for Electra’s refinery to
“Partnering with Rock Tech, a lead- Processing of material is expected recover lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper,
ing lithium development company with to start in 2026. Supply is expected to manganese and graphite.
assets in Europe and North America, increase over time, as Electra continues
complements our recycling strategy by to expand its battery materials park in Dongsung Chemical
allowing us to further upgrade recycled a modular fashion. The companies also
lithium into a battery grade product. Col- intend to explore additional collabora- raises organic
laboration is crucial to create a closed tion opportunities including possible peroxide production
loop for all critical minerals we recover in licensing of Electra’s technology for
our black mass refining operation. Jointly application in Europe and the co-location South Korea’s Dongsung Chemical
with Rock Tech, we are excited to offer of future battery recycling and lithium is investing 13-bn won ($10-mn) to
an end-to-end battery recycling solution refining plants. ramp up organic peroxide production
specifically for the lithium market,” said at its Yeosu plant.
Mr. Trent Mell, Electra’s CEO. Rock Tech is an emerging producer
of lithium chemicals through its planned The plan is to expand its produc-
“Our collaboration unlocks an lithium conversion facility in Germany tion capacity of organic peroxides by
important lithium sourcing option and as well as a second proposed lithium over 4-ktpa by October next year. The
ensures continuous long-term supply converter to be developed in Ontario, company is expecting the production
for our plants. Our collaboration ensures Canada. The company is developing efficiency to improve by 36% as well.
that lithium recovered from the recycling a refining platform for both, primary
of end-of-life batteries or battery manu- spodumene concentrate and recycled The latest move is in line with
facturing scrap is recovered, refined and lithium from battery and black mass Dongsung’s pivot toward fine chemi-
returned to the battery value chain as recycling operations. cals from traditional petrochemicals,
battery-grade lithium product,” empha- as the company strives to diversify its
sised Mr. Klaus Schmitz, Rock Tech’s Electra is currently constructing portfolio away from the carbon-heavy
COO. North America’s only cobalt sulphate sector. The goal is to grow global mar-
refinery in Temiskaming Shores, ket share in organic peroxides five-fold
Under the agreement, Electra will Ontario as part of a multi-pronged effort by 2027. Demand for organic per-
supply a portion of the lithium reco- to co-locate cobalt, nickel, manganese and oxides, used as initiators for poly-
vered from its black mass refinery north black mass refining within the refining merisation, is on an uptrend in line
of Toronto to Rock Tech for further pro- complex. Electra is currently testing its with growing polymer demand.

160 Chemical Weekly December 12, 2023
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