Technology critical metal recycling using ultrasonics and catalytic etchants

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Chemistry

Abstract

Technology critical metals (TCMs) are an essential distinct subset of specialist, often 'critical' metals, and each has its own specific properties. They are fundamental enablers of most major applications throughout industry and especially in clean energy and digital technologies, and they are essential for the world to decarbonise. The demand for TCMs is growing, and a wider range of materials and a circular economy approach are needed for the emerging technologies that will enable the energy transition and net zero aims. The UK is currently 100% import-reliant on TCMs and so it is essential to recycle these metals and develop a circular economy. Unfortunately these metals are diffusely distributed and maintaining value is difficult with current non-selective hydrometallurgical techniques. The vision of this research proposal centres on the use of targeted, catalytic etchants which can control the redox state of TCMs from complex architectures. This project will target layered structures such as photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices although it could equally be applied to a variety of other structures such as printed circuit boards and composites, particularly those of significant value to industries such as aerospace or wind renewables. The novelty of this project lies in combining catalytic etchants with ultrasonic techniques to bring about almost instantaneous separation and enable selective, fast-throughput processes to be developed. This project aims to develop a range of sustainable, inexpensive catalysts which can preferably be regenerated using air emulating what is done in a biological and geological environment. Practical recycling solutions need to be rapid and efficient and the secret to doing this for metals is to increase mass transport and change speciation. This project addresses the former using focussed ultrasound and the latter using novel ambient temperature ionic fluids.
 
Description Recycling Of Li-ion Batteries 3
Amount £4,980,705 (GBP)
Funding ID FIRG057 
Organisation The Faraday Institution 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2025
 
Title Electrode separation 
Description A method for delaminating an electrode material of an electrode sheet from a current collector of the electrode sheet comprises positioning the electrode sheet in a sonicating bath, and at least partially within a target area of a sonotrode, wherein, in the target area, the distance between a front face of the sonotrode and the electrode sheet is less than or equal to 2 cm; and ultrasonically treating the electrode sheet, using the sonotrode, with a power density at the sonotrode front face greater than or equal to 50 W/cm2. An electrode material delaminating apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed 
IP Reference PCT/GB2021/050185 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed No
Impact Fully filed in Jan 2021 Published Jan 2022
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Talk entitled Unlocking acoustic chaos: Characterising the cavitation in a tube transducer with increasing drive amplitude at Anglo-French Physical Acoustics Conference (AFPAC) 2024. Jan 17th - 19th
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.iop.org/events/anglo-french-physical-acoustics-conference-2024-afpac#gref
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON GREEN TECHNOLOGY CRITICAL METAL RECYCLING
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/12994
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Conference presentation entitled 'Characterising cavitation activity generated by an ultrasonic horn in a deep eutectic solvent for efficient precious metal recovery from e-waste' at the 17th Meeting of the European Society of Sonochemistry, Germany, August 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ess2022.de/
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Conference poster presentation entitled 'Developing the circular economy for photovoltaics', at the 11th ETP Annual Conference, Edinburgh, UK, November 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.etp-scotland.ac.uk/Events-News/Events/Post/id/1157/etp-11th-annual-conference-2022-a-net...
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Talk on "Preventing Passivation During Anodic Dissolution in Deep Eutectic Solvents" given at Electrochem 2023 (RSC), 10 - 12 September 2023, Bristol. UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/76467/electrochem-2023