Una panoramica sul settore del riciclo delle batterie di moderna generazione offerta da Alessandro Danesi

1. Una panoramica sul settore del riciclo delle batterie di moderna generazione
Alessandro Danesi, Seval Srl
Luglio 2022

2. Seval Environment BU has 8 operating plants and treat >150
kMt/y of WEEE, batteries and other waste
Colico
• Refrigerators & freezers, chiller, vending machines
• White goods
• IT equipment, small appliances
• Batteries
• Screens and PHV panels
Piantedo
• Refrigerators & freezers
Basiano
• Inkjet and toner cartridges
reuse
Casei Gerola
Warehouse for a wide range of waste product as:
• Packagings
• WEEE and batteries
• Waste to be incenerated
• Waste to be disposed
• Tyres
• Metals
Balvano
• Refrigerators & freezers, chiller,
vending machines
• White goods
• IT equipment, small appliances
• Screens and PHV panels
Cassino
• TVs and screens
Cimpello di Fiume Veneto
• WEEE components: compressors, cables, motors,
trasformers, heat exchanger
• Metal mixes: aluminum and copper for refining
Sessano del Molise
• Refrigerators & freezers
• Warehose for a wide range of products

3. Domestic market for battery recycling
Unkonwn volume
170.000 MT
Industrial,
automotive
Portable,
domestic
11.000 MT
Municipal
collection points
Waste storages &
WEEE recyclers
Lead
Other chem
Voluntary / professional collection
by Collective Schemes
Collection thr national
Clearing House (CDCNPA)
Alk-ZnC 65%-75%
Li-Ion 8%-12%
Li 4%-6%
NiMH 4%-6%
NiCd 3%-5%
Other 3%-6%

4. New li-ion batteries in the waste are increasing every day
EU treatment capacity
For li-ion 2020 (est.)
EU treatment capacity
For li-ion 2023 (est.)
EU 2020 market (est.)
Around 15.000 ton/anno
Around 30.000 ton/anno
More significant recycling plants
immesso
automotive Italia
2021
60 kTon*
*est. Based on internal calculation on UNRAE data
>500.000 ton (350.000 ton from
automotive, the rest from portable
application and e-mobility)
Process technology
Skills
Legal requirements
ADR restrictions
Burocracy

5. Unbalanced offer & request for treatment services can be
a real challenge in the next future
Market
Recycling capacity (worst)
Recycling capacity (best)

6. Li-ion reuse market
New battery 2020
New battery 2025
Battery from reuse 2025

7. Li-ion BM reuse market

8. Li-ion recycling technologies - 1
Plus
• Easy process
• Cheap investment
• Produce stable and not dangerous ingots
• Flexible on battery types
Minus
• High energy cost
• Almost impossible to recover Li and to
match with EU draft regulation on
batteries
• Ingots of unknown alloy / components

9. Li-ion recycling technologies – 2 (STD)
Pyrolysis
Shredding
Screening
Hydromet
Plus
• Medium investment
• Scalable project
• Flexible on battery types
• Low energy cost
• High recovery rates
• No chemicals
Minus
• Low throughput
• Difficult permits (spec. Italy)
• Dangerous powders (safety, export)
• Few specialized hydromet plants
Discharge
Focus on discharge
• Automotive average size
• Unloading power
• Energy recovery
• Investments
• High voltage works certification
• Dismantling
• Reuse needs a test

10. Li-ion recycling technologies – 3 next
Pyrolysis
Shredding
Sieving+…
Hydromet
Discharge
Warm-up
Shredding
Sieving+…
Hydromet
Discharge
Plus
• Scalable project at high production rate
• High recovery rates
• No incineration, faster (not fast) permits
• No chemicals
Minus
• High investment
• Dangerous powders (safety, export)
• Few specialized hydromet plants

11. Risks with li-ion batteries (in recycling)
• Stock of batteries (long / high stock)
• Lack of awareness of the connected risks
• Lack of knowledge of trasnport & packaging (ADR)
• Not insulated poles
• Wrong loading units
• No vermiculite
• Difficulties and confusion on how to handle it (even by
firemen)
• Stop to permit and insurances

12. Content of li-ion batteries
Lithium
Cobalt
Lithium
Cobalt
Nichel
Lithium
Iron phospate
70/Kg
22/Kg
70/Kg
?
?
Li-ion
2% 2% 2%
20/30%

13. THANK
YOU