BASF starts operation of prototype metal refinery for battery recycling in Germany

Innovative technology extracts lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery production scrap

BASF has successfully started operating its prototype metal refinery for battery recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany.

The state-of-the-art plant allows for the development of operational procedures and the optimization of innovative battery recycling technology, processing end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery production scrap. This will facilitate optimal recovery of valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper when scaling up the technology.

The prototype metal refinery is another milestone in the construction of Europe’s first co-located center of battery materials production and battery recycling in Schwarzheide. It complements BASF’s existing cathode active materials plant and the battery recycling plant for the production of black mass, which is scheduled to start operations later this year.

"With the expected rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, battery recycling provides competitive and sustainable access to critical metals,” said Dr. Daniel Schönfelder, President of BASF’s Catalysts division, who is also responsible for the company’s battery materials and battery recycling business. “We will use the extracted metals to enable a truly local circular economy for the battery value chain.”