NML Jamshedpur: Altekar Award recognises breakthrough in Lithium-Ion battery recycling

Jamshedpur: On the occasion of the 74th Foundation Day of CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, held at CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur, the Altekar Award for Best Technology 2023 was bestowed upon the innovative team of the Urban Ore Recycling Centre. Led by Dr. Manis Kumar Jha, Chief Scientist & Project Leader, the team includes members Dr. Jhumki Hait, Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Singh, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Choubey, Dr. Rekha Panda, Om Shankar Dinkar, and Rukshana Parween. Their groundbreaking work revolves around the technology transfer related to recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to recover saleable metals/salts of Li, Co, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al, graphite, and plastics.

The Award is named after Dr Vishwanath Anant Altekar, a pioneering icon of modern Indian metallurgy and son of the legendary ancient India historian, numismatist, and archaeologist Prof AS Altekar. A distinguished graduate of Asia’s first metallurgical engineering department at BHU and a Masters and DSc from the renowned Colorado School of Mines, Dr VA Altekar had academic stints at BHU and UDCT, Mumbai, before assuming Directorship of National Metallurgical Laboratory between 1969 and 1985—the longest ever at NML and also its most difficult years, given India’s challenged economy and limited research budgets at that time. NML’s continuing premier position among CSIR labs is in large part to Dr VA Altekar’s steering of NML as an applied research organization with a clear focus on making India’s metals and alloys manufacturing self-reliant.

In February 2022, CSIR-NML signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Recyclib Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, facilitating the transfer of technological know-how for the recovery of valuable materials from waste LIBs. The process involved extensive demonstration, training, and licensing provided to M/s Recyclib Pvt. Ltd., culminating on July 23, 2022. CSIR-NML played a pivotal role by providing lab and scale-up indigenous processes, enabling the company to pilot and validate the process, leading to commercial-scale production in February 2023.

This breakthrough technology not only contributes to the responsible disposal of waste LIBs but also addresses environmental concerns associated with their illegal and unscientific recycling. The recovery process is environmentally friendly, preventing the release of hazardous metals into the soil through sewage or industrial waste. The innovative technology, comprising pre-treatment, leaching, purification, and metallurgical techniques, ensures the extraction of high-purity metal/salts of Li, Co, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al, graphite, and plastics. The purity levels exceeding 98.5% for salts and 99.99% for metals underscore the efficiency and efficacy of the indigenous process.

The significance of this technology lies not only in its successful commercialization but also in its potential to create employment opportunities for unorganized recyclers, contributing to a safer and more sustainable recycling ecosystem. As CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur, emerges as a pioneer in the recycling of e-waste and spent batteries, the Altekar Award for Best Technology 2023 highlights the transformative impact of this breakthrough on India’s scientific and technological landscape. Looking ahead, this technology promises to not only bolster the country’s economy but also pave the way for environmentally friendly cottage industries and small-scale manufacturers, making strides towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

The LIBs recycling sector has noteworthy potential to contribute to the country’s economy and create employment. In future, the segments of technology will be available to common people as cottage industries/ manufacturers supporting small scale industries in an environmentally friendly manner. Process requires the use of chemical reagents, it has been handled with standard Pre-caution and safety. All recycling is carried out in good ventilation. The use of rubber gloves, safety glasses and mask is used to avoid skin contact with chemicals and to prevent health hazards.