The Department of Material and Waste Processing at the Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics (IFAD) has conducted decades of research in the field of mineral processing and waste recycling. IFAD has particular expertise in the development of processing methods for complex material flows in its own laboratory and pilot plants. In the area of ​​recycling, IFAD is active not only in production-integrated processes but also in the post-consumer sector. Furthermore, IFAD plays a pivotal role in the development of complete recycling chains and interconnected systems.

Since 2012, IFAD has carried out a large number of projects in the field of recycling of electromobility components, focusing in particular on the technologies of flotation and hydrometallurgy. One of IFAD’s major areas of research is the engineered artificial minerals, particularly in the development of flotation chemistry systems for synthetically generated phases and in the separation of different target-elements from solutions by ion-selective methods.

Within the GreenBat research cluster, the Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics (IFAD) is represented in the PyroLith subproject and acts as project coordinator. The partner-specific task of the Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics (IFAD) is to develop a process to enrich the valuable material components by flotation. A suitable hydrometallurgical process will be used to recover the target metals. The remaining slag components should be able to be used as feedstock for the production of building materials.

Project participation

S2taR

PyroLith (Lead)

EVanBatter

LOWVOLMON

The research activities at the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics and Energy Efficient Material Treatment are in the field of thermodynamics, at the interface between engineering and natural sciences. Research topics on experimental and theoretical thermodynamics are closely linked to the development of new sustainable materials, processes, and products. The chair is focused primarily on the following research areas: thermodynamics of processes, thermodynamics of materials, thermodynamics of multicomponent systems and statistical thermodynamics.

The IEVB contributes to the subprojects PyroLith and LOWVOLMON within the greenBatt research cluster. The PyroLith subproject task is to develop a thermodynamic model for the simulation of the metallurgical process and predict the Li-containing mineral phases present in the formed slag compositions. Consequently, this contributes to the optimization of the material recycling efficiency in the metallurgical process. The subproject LOWVOLMON deals with the investigation of the effects of different thermal treatments of the shredded material from battery cells on the recycling efficiency and the purity of the black mass obtained. This subproject focuses on the model-based development of a thermal process step for the efficient separation of the high-boiling electrolyte components and the polymer-based binder material.

Project participation

The Institute of Non-Metallic Materials of the Clausthal University of Technology covers a broad range of skills concerning secondary raw materials and their potential treatment processes. The institute is active in both industry-related projects and basic research. At the moment there is a research project concerning the reactive properties of granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) dependent on specific cooling rates. In the former department of Building Materials several projects on recycling have been accomplished. On the cementitious side the deployment of lignite coal fly ash, sewage sludge and other industrial residues have been investigated. Whereas current projects evaluate the use of incineration bottom ash as a synthetic aggregate in concrete.

The INW is capable of all necessary testing procedures for building materials and has access to a vast variety of advanced analytics. A highlight is the cryo-FESEM, enabling the freezing of slags while analysing their reaction status. This expertise enables a well-rounded evaluation of the new battery slags regarding their utilisation as a recycling-based building material. The primary approach includes the deployment of these slags as a substitute in conventional raw meals in the OPC production process or as a fine grounded clinker substitute. As a subordinate utilisation, the manufacturing of a synthetic aggregate needs to be considered. Many projects conducted so far, had their emphasis in similar research areas, providing a well-founded basis for the upcoming project.

Project participation