SaltMaker ChilledCrys Crystallizer
ChilledCrys is a novel and highly competitive alternative to expensive evaporators for zero liquid discharge of specific chemistries.
Battery Manufacturing and Recycling
Recovery of cathode active materials (CAM) and lithium recrystallization
From electronics to electric vehicles, the world increasingly runs on lithium-ion batteries. Saltworks’ advanced water processing and resource extraction technologies support cathode active materials (CAM) production and battery recycling operations.
With the shift to electrification of transport and energy storage, demand is increasing for:
- sustainable and cost-effective battery-grade chemicals including from recycled batteries
- CAM wastewater treatment and recovery to minimize environmental impacts and increase supply chain security
- technological innovation in chemical processes for improved sustainability, yield, and economics.
Saltworks’ chemical, membrane, and thermal technology systems are optimized for lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling operations. We focus on recovery of ions of value, water recycling, and zero liquid discharge treatment of CAM or recycling plant wastewaters.
Cathode Active Materials
Cathode active materials (CAM) are the key ingredients in batteries. CAM production facilities produce high-salinity blended wastewaters with precious metals representing a typical $10–60M in annual recovery value.
These wastewaters are often subjected to stringent discharge regulations due to environmental and health risks. Effective treatment can ensure discharge limits are met and significant mineral value is recovered.
Valuable Metals, Sulfuric Acid & Sulfates
On the other end of an electric vehicle or electronic device’s life cycle, spent batteries present the opportunity to economically recover metals of value.
To recover valuable metals such as cobalt, lithium and nickel, some operators
- mechanically break down spent batteries into a battery powder of cathode and anode materials,
- leach metals from the powder using sulfuric acid and a reducing agent, and
- precipitate the resulting metal sulfates as solids.
SaltMaker MVR
The SaltMaker MVR is a forced circulation evaporative crystallizer that concentrates recovered brines and crystallizes solid products. Built-in self-cleaning ensures reliability at optimal capacity while producing a high-purity solid product.
We can engineer an MVR into your total process flow, with full consideration of upstream membrane and chemical systems. When treating CAM wastewaters, Saltworks’ MVR systems can achieve ZLD and recover lithium in resalable form.
Recycling Battery Nickel: Membrane ZLD
The SaltMaker ChilledCrys system selectively precipitates metal sulfates that have a steep temperature-solubility curve, such as nickel sulfate. It also recovers sodium sulfate from wastewater.
When recycling metals from lithium-ion batteries, ChilledCrys can continually separate and remove water and nickel sulfate solids, achieving zero liquid discharge (ZLD) without expensive chemical consumption or evaporation processes.
Optimize Your Project
Saltworks is focused on helping CAM producers, lithium-ion battery manufacturers, and recycling operators recover more valuable materials, improve purity and yields and improve process economics. Contact our lithium industry experts to learn more.
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