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24M’s new direct-material recycling process for EV batteries

March 05, 2024

24M has introduced Liforever, a direct material recycling methodology for EV & ESS batteries.

Conventional lithium-ion cells use pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling processes that form black mass e-waste, damaging the structure of the anode and cathode materials. This damage and the high cost of the process typically result in less expensive materials like LFP not being recycled. Only more expensive metals, such as nickel, manganese, and cobalt, are extracted from the black mass in their base metal form and reintroduced to the active material production process.

Liforever, however, maintains the active materials in their original form and does not create a black mass. This unique feature allows for the low-cost recycling of all active materials from the anode (graphite) and cathode (NMC, LFP, NCA, etc.). After recovery, the active materials undergo a low-cost cleaning and, as needed, re-lithiation to reclaim their original capacity.

24M has demonstrated Liforever with end-of-life LFP cells, showcasing a cost-effective approach to recycling LFP cells for the first time. The Liforever recycling methodology is designed to be compatible with both current and anticipated future recycling regulations, allowing cell manufacturers, EV OEMs, and ESS operators to future-proof their battery technology. The 24M SemiSolid process is chemistry agnostic, meaning Liforever will support next-generation batteries of all chemistry types, adding additional longevity to the technology.

24M CEO Naoki Ota said, “Better battery recycling is essential for a sustainable energy future, but the use of binders in conventional cell production has made direct recycling impractical. Liforever solves these challenges by enabling the reuse of nearly every part of the battery cell without requiring the expensive, inefficient and environmentally challenging processes used in conventional cell recycling. These cost savings are further optimized by our streamlined SemiSolid technology, which eliminates half of the steps used in conventional cell production.”