Programme: ETP Zero Emissions Mobility
Commercial partner: Better2Earth
Academic partner: Robert Gordon University
The Zero Emissions mobility (ZEM) Programme, funded by Transport Scotland, operated by ETP between 2022 - 2024, provided grant funding for companies to work with an academic partner on innovative solutions to drive to reduce emission associated with mobility.
As one of 8 projects funded under the ZEM programme, Better2Earth, a life sciences enterprise working with academic institutions and industry partners around the world, partnered with Robert Gordon University on a project to recover valuable metals from spent electric vehicle batteries. Better2Earth worked with Dr Carlos Fernandez, Senior Lecturer in Analytical Biochemistry Sciences at Robert Gordon University (RGU) to test the idea that a novel, repurposed glass-based material termed Porous Alpha (PA), provided by Better2 Earth, could be used in a process for the valorisation of metals from spent batteries.
Currently, the standard processes used to recycle and recover metals from batteries have major drawbacks in the form of high energy costs and the release of toxic by-products that require remediation. The aim of the project was to investigate the use of a high-porous material (PA) for recovering metals from waste stream of spent batteries. If successfully implemented, this could help meet the urgent need for innovative lithium-ion battery recycling processes that are highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable - with low energy inputs and minimal toxic or caustic chemical use aside from water.
If achieved, such a process would open the way to targeted recovery of particularly favoured metals such as Lithium, Cobalt, Copper using methods consistent with a sustainable and circular economy, as no harmful by-products are released and everything is either reusable or recyclable, including the PA.
For this project Robert Gordon University carried out characterisation and analysis of the high-porous material and of the metals recovered during the process providing Better2Earth with information needed to validate and optimise the technology.
Work conducted under the project grant showed highly favourable results constituting an advancement from idea/concept level to TRL3. This has directly led to further funding from Innovate UK to continue the research as well as a place on the GrandScale Ignite accelerator programme for promising pre-spinout teams. In summary, the project team are highly satisfied the project, with the results achieved showing sufficient evidence to support continued collaboration and forward development of what the project team believe a significant new technology.