The Lithium-ion Recycling Problem…Solved

At Liberty we have developed innovative environmentally friendly lithium-ion and plastic recycling technology. We have solved how to recycle vapes, phones, drill batteries and EV batteries in an automated, safe and cost effective method. With our technology partner ERMAFA, we’ve built the machines, tested them and now have recycling sites in the UK and Europe.

We have dared to develop and then invest in the first automated, inert environment recycling solution to the global recycling timebomb of lithium-ion products.

Most of the UK vape “recycling” schemes we have encountered involve a Third World like manual process whereby the vape is cut with a pair of garden shears, exposing the hazardous liquids to atmosphere, (and the individual doing the cutting), the dangerous battery containing charge and electrolytes is then extracted and exported. Everything bar the battery is incinerated.

We believe that recycling should be about recovering materials, and also that the processes should be safe for the operators and environment. Inside a vape or EV battery there are valuable materials to be recovered such as aluminium, plastic, silicone, copper, black mass and cables. So at LRS we found a solution to this problem that is scalable, safe and kinder to the environment. In short we go beyond collection.

Our machine is a fully automated unit that can process vapes, mobile phones, tablets, drill batteries and even EV batteries. The cutting is done inside the machine by a 4 shaft shredder in an inert atmosphere for safety, no shears or pliers. The electrolytes and liquids are removed and bottled off, and not released to the atmosphere. The dried shred is then bagged for recovery. With the electrolytes removed the material is safe for transport and separation. The emissions release is controlled through a scrubber and an active carbon filter through an exhaust management system to EU standards.

The mixed end-of-life Vape (or other product) fraction is pre-shred in a 4-shaft Rotary Shear down to a defined grain (approx. 20 mm) and vacuum dried (freed from Electrolyte). This is a security measure in the process chain to eliminate the danger of burning by removing the enclosed Electrolyte for a safe transport, storing, and mechanical processing of the dried solid output-material.

Because of the included Electrolyte and ignition capability of the batteries, this process step needs to be executed gas, dust, and leakage protected, and must be realised under an inert atmosphere.

The chemical reactions and occurring process-gases are handled in a sophisticated and extended exhaust-gas management.

Once processed and dried the materials remaining are cooled and safe to handle. They are then passed via another machine to sort them into metals (cobalt and lithium salts, stainless steel, copper, aluminum), plastics and “black mass” from the batteries.

The plastics will need to be disposed of and LRS has a closed-loop solution for this waste stream via another partner who can turn this plastic into re-usable board.. The metals from the process can be re-used. The back mass can be stored and sold.

Our aim is that almost all of the processed materials can truly be re-used/purposed creating closed-loop recycling operation.

 

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