China releases new national standard for black mass

The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) has officially released the new national standard, GB/T 45203-2024, titled Recycled Black Mass for Lithium-Ion Batteries. This standard, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, aims to regulate the classification, technical requirements, testing methods, and quality control of recycled black mass derived from lithium-ion battery waste.

While the standard is expected to improve both trade and quality of the domestic black mass market in China it is also expected to both allow and facilitate import of black mass from other countries. This will open up more opportunities for both Chinese battery makers and their recycling partners to expand pre-processing overseas and return production scrap for re-processing in China. It will also open up trade with black mass from countries which are free to trade with China, which may increase the competition for material for recyclers primarily in South Korea, India and countries in Southeast Asia.

The standard make a difference between chemistries (Type 1 for NMC/NCA and Type 2 for LFP) as well as for so called black powder which stems from cathode scrap where anode material is not present (Grade 1) and end-of-life batteries (Grade 2).

The standard was developed under by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and involved contributions from over 20 leading companies and research institutions, including GEM, Brunp, and Ganfeng Lithium.

Key Highlights of GB/T 45203-2024

Scope and Application

The standard applies to recycled black mass obtained from lithium-ion battery waste, which is intended for further recycling and reuse. It covers the classification, technical specifications, testing methods, inspection rules, packaging, transportation, storage, and accompanying documentation.

Classification and Grading

• Classification:

  • Type I: Black mass produced from lithium-ion battery waste containing nickel and/or cobalt.

  • Type II: Black mass produced from lithium-ion battery waste containing lithium iron phosphate (LFP).

• Grading:

  • Grade 1: Black mass produced from cathode scrap materials.

  • Grade 2: Black mass produced from used battery waste.

Technical Requirements

• Chemical Composition:

  • The standard specifies the minimum content of key elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and iron, as well as the maximum allowable levels of impurities like zinc, lead, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic.

  • For Type I black mass, the combined nickel and cobalt content must be ≥45.00% for Grade 1 and ≥25.00% for Grade 2.

  • For Type II black mass, the iron content must be ≥28.00% for Grade 1 and ≥18.00% for Grade 2.

• Acid-Insoluble Substances:

  • The maximum allowable acid-insoluble content varies by type and grade, with stricter limits for Grade 1 products.

• Moisture Content:

  • The drying loss should not exceed 2.0%.

• Impurities:

  • The standard prohibits the inclusion of other waste materials and sets limits on visible impurities and particle size.

• Testing MethodsThe standard outlines detailed testing procedures for determining the chemical composition, moisture content, and impurities in black mass. Key methods include:

  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) for measuring nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, lead, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic.

  • Quinoline Phosphomolybdate Gravimetric Method for phosphorus content.

  • Titanium Trichloride Reduction-Potassium Dichromate Titration for iron content.

  • Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode Method for water-soluble fluoride content.

  • Combustion Oxidation-Non-Dispersive Infrared Absorption Method for total organic carbon (TOC) content.

• Inspection and Quality Control

  • Each batch of black mass must undergo rigorous testing for chemical composition, moisture content, and impurities.

  • The standard specifies sampling methods and acceptance criteria, ensuring consistency and reliability in product quality.

• Packaging, Transportation, and Storage

  • Black mass must be packaged in double-layered polyethylene bags within ton bags, with clear labeling indicating the product name, grade, net weight, batch number, and production date.

  • Proper storage conditions, including dry and ventilated environments, are mandated to prevent contamination and degradation.