Aurubis partner with Talga to recycle graphite from waste batteries

The German non-ferrous processor Aurubis which is setting up a demo plant for lithium-ion battery recycling has partnered with Australian graphite producer Talga to recover and reutilise graphite from the batteries.

Aurubis is currently developing a battery recycling process which it aim to commercialise in the second half of this decade. The company has still not announced where the plant will be although the company has expressed concern about the high energy prices in Europe and especially Germany.

Talga develops a graphite source in Sweden with aim to produce battery anode material. The development project aims to expand the application of Talga's technology to all Aurubis graphite input materials through closer cooperation between the two companies.

Talga's technologies for graphite processing and anode production complement Aurubis' expertise in recycling complex materials. The partners aim to bring this development to product maturity by 2025. Aurubis claims it can recover graphite in concentrate form with a purity of more than 90% carbon. Talga will purify the graphite concentrate supplied by Aurubis and refine it into battery-grade anode material. 

The project is another in an increasing long row of initiatives of graphite recycling where among other Ascend Elements have partnered with Orbia to develop a process and Ecograf has worked with Sungeel Hitech. The Norwegian specialised graphite producer Vianode has also extensive research in the field. In CES Global Recycler Database we list 11 operational recycling companies that recycle graphite in some form.