Celebrating 25 years of Battery Research and Recycling
This year marks the 25th anniversary of pioneering battery research at the IME – Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling Institute. Our work has been instrumental in advancing sustainable metallurgical processes, with a strong focus on battery recycling, early-stage lithium recovery, circular-economy strategies, and critical-raw-material recovery.
The Journal of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (Springer Nature) has published a special issue titled “Collection in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Prof. Bernd Friedrich.” The collection highlights key research areas including hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical approaches for battery recycling, electronic scrap processing, and sustainable extraction technologies. Here, the review paper, “From Waste to Resource: 25 Years Transforming Battery Recycling at IME RWTH Aachen University,” honors Prof. Friedrich’s role in guiding and inspiring generations of researchers.
The paper traces the evolution of IME’s work from early laboratory-scale studies in the 2000s to today’s advanced pilot-scale processes. It reflects how research has adapted to evolving EU regulations, rapid changes in battery chemistries, and the growing demand for a circular economy. IME’s work spans pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and hybrid approaches, with increasing focus on thermal pre-treatment and early-stage lithium recovery to improve overall efficiency and meet future recycling targets.
Recently, at the GDMB Battery Materials Symposium, Prof. Friedrich presented IME’s latest advancements in battery research, highlighting ongoing efforts to close material loops for both lithium-ion and next-generation batteries.
A valuable read for anyone working in battery recycling and sustainable materials: https://lnkd.in/e8puKPE3