As part of our series of interviews of partners, it is CSIC's turn to give us an outlook of their role in the project.
Can you give us a short description of CSIC?
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is the largest public institution in Spain dedicated to scientific and technical research and one of the most prominent within the European research area, composed of more than 120 research institutes in Spain. The principal objective of the CSIC is to promote and carry out scientific and technological research through some knowledge fields. CSIC collaborates with several national and international public and private universities, research centers, and other entities, covers a wide range of disciplines. In addition, CSIC also plays a significant role in knowledge transfer and innovation.
What were the reasons for CSIC to join an EU-funded research project such as FREE4LIB?
One of the reasons for participating in European projects, such as FREE4LIB, is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in contemporary topics across Europe. Another reason is the collaboration with other researchers, that help CSIC to advance and learn from other colleagues. In the specific case of FREE4LIB, also avoid the dependence of raw materials from third countries of European Union.
CSIC oversaw work package 3 on recycling technologies and materials reusing for Li-batteries. Can you describe your involvement in this process?
The goal of WP3 is the development of different technologies for lithium-ion battery recycling and remanufacturing at the lab scale. Among them, along the WP3 were developed a battery pack dismantling line supported by robots, and the recovery of valuable materials (such as metal oxides, plastics, and metals) from spent LIBs. In addition to validating the valorised materials to battery value chain, and the use of recycled materials in alternative uses. The main goal of CSIC in WP3, in addition to coordinating the partners to achieve the goals set out in the work package, is the development of recycling technologies to recover the valuable metals from black mass.
More specifically, CSIC is among the partners involved in the research on black mass recycling. What is black mass and how does its recycling matter?
Black mass is the industry term used to describe a type of e-waste consisting of crushed and shredded end-of-life battery cells. Black mass consists mainly of cobalt, nickel, lithium, and other valuable metals, alongside carbon and various inactive materials. These metals are considered critical and strategic raw materials by the European Union; therefore, their recycling and recovery from secondary sources, such as black mass, are essential to ensure the sustainable utilization of these raw materials.
Can you tell us a bit more about your work and role on this topic?
CSIC focuses their investigations on the development of several metallurgical methods (both, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods) for the recovery of critical raw materials from secondary sources. In this context, within the FREE4LIB project, CSIC has developed an effective process for the recovery of lithium, cobalt, and nickel from black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
What are the next steps for CSIC’s involvement within FREE4LIB?
The next step in which CSIC will participate within the FREE4LIB project involves scaling-up of the recycling process for black mass. CSIC will carry out the process for the recovery of raw materials from the black mass to reach a TRL 5-6 developed throughout WP3.
