The PULSELiON project has published the public summary of Deliverable D7.3 – Report on Recycling Process and Upscaling Requirement, presenting the latest results on the development and validation of recycling pathways for solid-state battery cells.
The work focuses on the laboratory-scale assessment of a recycling process for PULSELiON solid-state batteries, building upon the conceptual recycling strategy developed in an earlier stage of the project. The objective is to address the specific challenges associated with solid-state battery chemistries, including lithium metal anodes and sulfide-based electrolytes.
The validated process combines targeted pre-treatment and hydrometallurgical recycling steps. Key developments include lithium metal conversion and recovery as lithium hydroxide (LiOH), removal of solvent-based electrolyte components, and the staged separation of transition metals such as manganese, cobalt, and nickel through solvent extraction and selective precipitation.
The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of several key recycling operations and the functional integration of important process steps. Recovery pathways have been demonstrated for the major battery components, providing valuable insights into the recycling of next-generation solid-state batteries.
At the same time, the study highlights areas for further development. While the process has been successfully validated at laboratory scale, it remains at a proof-of-concept stage and requires additional optimisation, including improvements in selectivity, mass-balance closure, and validation of lithium recovery across all process streams. From an upscaling perspective, the process is considered technically viable and provides a clear foundation for future optimisation and industrial implementation.
The public summary of Deliverable D7.3 is now available for download.