Page 163 - CW E-Magazine (25-6-2024)

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TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH CIRCULAR ECONOMY PARTNERSHIP
Asahi Kasei’s novel electrolyte to help develop compact, Neste, Borealis & Covestro partner to make new car

effi cient and affordable lithium-ion batteries parts from discarded tyres

Japan’s Asahi Kasei said it has longer charging times, while higher battery electrolytes. By using the high European chemical fi rms – Neste, carded tyres into a high-quality raw
achieved proof of concept (PoC) of temperatures result in accelerated aging ionic conductive electrolyte, it is possi- Borealis and Covestro – have signed a material for polymers & chemicals
lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using its pro- which reduces battery service life. With ble to reduce batteries pack size while project agreement to enable the recy- manufacturing and supplies it to Aus-
prietary high ionic conductive electro- the rapidly emerging market of energy maintaining the power output, contri- cling of discarded tyres into plastics for tria’s Borealis. Borealis then process
lyte. “This technological breakthrough storage systems worldwide, especially buting to higher battery energy density automotive applications. the Neste-produced raw material into
allows for increased power output in the fi eld of electric vehicles, stable and lower overall pack cost. base chemicals, phenol and acetone,
even at low-temperature, and improved battery performance and high durability When no longer fi t for use, tyres which are supplied to Germany’s
durability at high temperature – both at extreme temperatures is of signi- are liquefi ed by means of chemical re- Covestro. Covestro can use these mate-
pressing issues of current LIBs,” the fi cant importance. Compared to cells made with con- cycling and then processed into base rials to make polycarbonates. The share
company informed in a press note. The ventional electrolyte, the tested proto- chemicals and further into polycar- (L to R) Mr. Jeroen Verhoeven (Neste), of recycled content is attributed via the
technology could also contribute to lower Asahi Kasei began developing an type cylindrical cells showed high power bonates of high purity. These can then Mr. Thomas Van De Velde (Borealis), mass balancing approach all the way
Mr. Guido Naberfeld (Covestro)
cost and smaller size of battery packs, electrolyte with high ionic conducti- at -40°C and double the cycle life at be used in various automotive appli- to the fi nal products using ‘ISCC Plus’
further raising the energy density. vity in 2010, when Honorary Fellow 60°C before reaching a state of health cations, from parts of headlamps to materials from cars into new car parts certifi cation.
Akira Yoshino focused on acetonitrile (SoH) of 80%. The company is aiming radiator grilles. again. With that, we are supporting our
“This proof of concept is a techno- as a promising ingredient in lithium-ion for commercialisation next year. automotive customers and addressing The fi rst products based on the colla-
logical breakthrough. By licensing the “Circularity requires cooperation, an increasingly prominent question dis- boration are already available as each
electrolyte technology to LIB manu- and this cooperation with our partners cussed across the value chain: How to party has manufactured the fi rst batch
factures worldwide, Asahi Kasei aims Neste and Borealis is testament to match high-performance materials with of their respective contribution to the
to contribute to lower cost and more the possibilities at our disposal,” said recycled content? Projects like this can project. Aside from polycarbonates,
compact battery systems, which are a Mr. Guido Naberfeld, Senior Vice Presi- be the answer,” he added. the project partners may also consider
key driver to achieve a more sustain- dent, Head of Sales and Market polyurethanes as a possible end pro-
able society,” emphasised Mr. Kazuya Development Mobility at Covestro. “We As part of the collaboration, Fin- duct, which could also fi nd its way into
Noda, Senior General Manager of Asahi are creating options to turn discarded land-based Neste turns liquefi ed dis- parts of the interior of a car.
Kasei’s Innovation Strategy Centre. CLEAN AND GREEN

LIBs are recommended to be used Transform Materials and Johnson Matthey collabo-
within a temperature range of 10-45°C.
Lower temperatures result in lower rate to enable lower carbon and mercury-free
cell capacity, lower power output, and
alternative routes for PVC manufacturing

Scientists and engineers at Trans- producing acetylene from a range of said Mr. Alan Ingham, Director of
form Materials, the US-based deve- short-chain hydrocarbons and JM’s global licensing at JM.
loper of microwave plasma technology mercury-free technology and catalyst
to convert hydrocarbons and natural offering for converting acetylene to Acetylene is typically produced by
gas into acetylene and hydrogen, and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). hydrolysis of calcium carbide and is a
UK’s Johnson Matthey (JM), are ap- critical building block in many chemical
plying their combined expertise to “By combining our leading hydro- processes. Calcium carbide is produced
revolutionise vinyl chloride monomer chlorination catalyst and VCM techno- via an energy-intensive process that
(VCM) production through a novel, logy offering with Transform Materials’ uses coal and limestone as feedstocks,
lower-carbon-emission, mercury-free innovative approach to acetylene pro- while VCM is converted to PVC via a
process. duction, we can now offer PVC manu- polymerisation reaction. Traditionally,
facturers a truly compelling path to mercury has been the catalyst of choice
The collaboration brings together increase production capacity in a more to hydrochlorinate acetylene to VCM.
Transform Materials’ technology for environmentally responsible manner,” However, with the ratifi cation of the

162 Chemical Weekly June 25, 2024 Chemical Weekly June 25, 2024 163

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