BASF launches prototype metal refinery for battery recycling in Germany

BASF's battery recycling prototype metal refinery in Schwarzheide, Germany, has begun operations. The company said the facility is capable of developing operating procedures and optimizing innovative battery recycling technologies, processing end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery production scrap.

BASF says this will help achieve optimal recovery of valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper when scaling up the technology. 

The construction of Europe's first battery materials production and battery recycling center in Schwarzheide has taken another step forward. The prototype metal refinery complements BASF's existing cathode active materials plant and battery recycling plant for the production of black matter, the plant plans to start operations later this year. The chemicals group hopes to build a commercial-scale refinery in Europe in the next few years.

Daniel Schönfelder, president of BASF's Catalysts division and responsible for the company's battery materials and battery recycling businesses, said:"With the electric vehicle market growing rapidly, battery recycling provides a competitive and sustainable way to obtain critical metals. We will use the extracted metals to enable a truly local circular economy in the battery value chain."