The CROCODILE project will showcase innovative metallurgical systems based on advanced pyro-, hydro-, bio-, iono- and electrometallurgy technologies for the recovery of cobalt and the production of cobalt metal and upstream products from a wide variety of secondary and primary European resources. CROCODILE will demonstrate the synergetic approaches and the integration of the innovative metallurgical systems within existing recovery processes of cobalt from primary and secondary sources at different locations in Europe, to enhance their efficiency, improve their economic and environmental values, and will provide a zero-waste strategy for important waste streams rich in cobalt such as batteries.

1. First of a kind commercial Compact system for the efficient Recovery Of CObalt
Designed with novel Integrated LEading technologies
1
This project has received funding from the European Union's EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
Horizon 2020 under Grant Agreement No 776473 - https://h2020-crocodile.eu/
EASME
session
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30
Lourdes Yurramendi
(TECNALIA)
Nader Akil
(PNO)
&

2. The Crocodile project: general information and objectives
2
Results and innovation potential
Further development: exploitation and business models
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session
Conclusions
Outline

3. General information and objectives
3
Call: H2020-SC5-2017 Topic: Raw materials Innovation actions
25 partners from 11 different countries
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

4. General information and objectives
4
First of a kind commercial Compact system for the efficient Recovery Of CObalt
Designed with novel Integrated LEading technologies http://h2020-crocodile.eu/
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

5. General information and objectives
5
➢ Demonstrate scaled-up innovative integrated systems and technologies capable
of enhancing the efficiency of existing raw materials recovery processes;
➢ Develop a new mobile system with the capability of producing cobalt metal to
enable new business opportunities and expand the business across the EU;
➢ Build a strong value chain capable of supplying approx. 10,000 ton of cobalt
per year (about 65% of the current EU demand) from mainly European
resources.
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

6. Results and innovation potential
6
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

7. Results and innovation potential
7
Present situation
• Processes validated at lab scale (more than 90% of Co
extraction efficiency in the processes involved)
• Developing detailed engineering for construction of the system
• Revamping of the existing units (restoring and documents
including 3D layout)
Existing pilot plant at Eco Recycling
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

8. Results and innovation potential
8
Forthcoming technical activities:
• Construction of the new units
• Integration of all the components to built the
CROCODILE plant (TRL8) at Eco Recycling platform in
Italy
• System validation
Container 1: Leaching process (Reactor, filter press, intermediate tank)
Container 2: Chemical storage tanks
Container 3: Extraction stripping process (Mixer settler, storage tanks, abatement system)
Container 4: Electrowinning (electrolysis cell, abatement system, storage tanks)
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

9. Results and innovation potential
9
KER Title Achievement
Lead
partner
Other
partners
Pre-Treatment
KER 1 Vacuum treatment furnace
₋ Improves detection and sorting of Co containing secondary resources
₋ Increases Co content in the black mass from spent batteries
₋ Reduce energy consumption and environmental impact of recycling
processes
₋ Patent planned
ACC -
KER 2 Cobalt identification & upgrading COM -
KER 3 Sieving methods AKK -
KER 4
Concentration of Co in black mass to
70%
SNA -
KER 5
Increase of yield of valuable metals
(Co, Ni, Al, Cu) from black mass
treatment
SAU -
Innovation Radar: Key Exploitable Results (KER) Electrowining
L/L (DES)
extraction
DES/Bio-
Leaching
Enhaced mechanical and
Termal pre-treatment
(Black Mass)
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

10. Results and innovation potential
10
KER Title Achievement
Lead
partner
Other
partners
Treatment
KER 6
Solvent extraction process for the
extraction and purification of Co
₋ Innovative process for the purification of Co from deep eutectic solvents by
solvent extraction (To be tested in plant under CROCODILE project)
KUL -
KER 7
DES leaching process for metal (Co)
recovery from spent Li batteries
₋ More environmentally friendly process for Co and other metals of interest, with
capacity to treat different BM types in mild leaching conditions. (To be tested in
plant under CROCODILE project)
₋ Protected as a trade secret and patent applied
TEC -
KER 8
Reductive bioleaching for the
recovery of Co contained in limonitic
laterites (LAR: FeNi laterite)
₋ Bio-leaching concept (bacteria as a catalyst) has the potential to revolutionize
the processing of limonites with an expected lower capital cost, reduction of
energy and reagent consumption and also of waste generation (Patent planned)
BRGM
BAN,
NHM, LAR
KER 9
Electrowinning technology for Co
metal production
₋ Possibility of obtaining high-value Co metal product using different Co-solutions
with an environmentally friendly technology (Patent planned)
SIN GNN
Pilot
KER
10
Construction of plant
₋ Realization of plant to treat black mass for cobalt recovery following
CROCODILE process (Joint venture planned)
ECO,
IDE
KUL, TEC,
SIN, REL,
ISL
Innovation Radar: Key Exploitable Results (KER) Electrowining
L/L (DES)
extraction
DES/Bio-
Leaching
Enhaced mechanical and
Termal pre-treatment
(Black Mass)
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

11. 11
Primary
Ores
Mining
Tailings & Slags
(Ni,Cu production)
Mechanical and thermal
Pre-treatment
(Conventional)
Mineral
acid
leaching
Reducing Solid
Co Oxide
Furnace
Reducing to metal
End users
Final products
Collectors
Electrowining
L/L (DES)
extraction
DES / Bio
Leaching
Enhaced mechanical and
Termal pre-treatment
(Black Mass)
Intermediates
Secondary Sources
Conventional Recovering processPrimary Sources
Spent Li-Ion Batteries
CROCODILE PROCESS
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session
Further development: exploitation and business models
Co metal
Co metal
KER 1
KER 2
KER 3
KER 5
KER 4
KER 6
KER 7 KER 9
KER 10
KER 8

12. Further development: exploitation and business models
12
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session
1- The CROCODILE consortium is backed up by strong industries along the whole value chain who are interested in
the exploitation of the results in their respective businesses
2- A join venture between several partners for the exploitation of the CROCODILE pilot is planned
3- A stakeholders analysis identified external stakeholders that can benefit from the technologies developed
4- An initial business plan has been proposed, but will need to be updated after the final pilot design and process
upscaling and validation. The business plan can be discussed with potential interested stakeholders by the end of the
project, to explore business opportunities with the consortium partners.

13. Conclusions
13
➢ Processes already validated at lab scale. Detailed engineering, equipment purchasing and plant
construction are ongoing.
➢ 10 Key Exploitable Results have been identified in CROCODILE. These KER have been preliminary defined
as potential business opportunities according to the expected level of development at the end of the
project.
➢ The CROCODILE consortium has defined the methodology and elements that form the building blocks of an
initial business plan. Further analysis will be elaborated during the project lifetime which will result in an
updated business model aiming at the commercialization of the concept.
➢ There is one patent submitted and it is planned to generate three more. A joint venture for exploitation of
the CROCODILE plant is also foreseen.
➢ Interest in potential investors/stakeholders that can boost the exploitation of these promising results.
EIT RM Summit 2020, September 30 - EASME session

14. Thanks for your attention
This project has received funding from the European Union's EU Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation Horizon 2020 under Grant Agreement No 776473 - https://h2020-crocodile.eu/
Contact:
TECNALIA
Dr. Amal Siriwardana (Project Coordinator)
Amal.Siriwardana@tecnalia.com
Dr. Lourdes Yurramendi
(TECNALIA)
lourdes.yurramendi@tecnalia.com
Dr. Nader Akil
(PNO)
Nader.akil@pnoconsultants.com