As part of our research into sustainable battery recycling, we successfully tested a lithium recovery process using tartaric acid—an organic compound derived from agro-food waste.

After developing the method in the lab, we scaled it up and carried out a pilot-scale experiment. Over 4.4 kg of battery material was treated in a dedicated reactor with a tartaric acid solution under optimized conditions. After one hour, the solution was filtered and analyzed, showing a lithium leaching efficiency of about 90%.

We also recovered the tartaric acid for reuse. The recovered compound was thoroughly analyzed and matched the reference material, confirming the success of the process. In this way it can be reused in multiple leaching cycles. This not only reduces process costs but also minimizes environmental impact.

This pilot test demonstrates the method’s potential for industrial application and reinforces our commitment to green chemistry and circular economy principles.

• Hydrometallurgical Molybdenum Recovery from Spent Catalyst Using Tartaric Acid Derived from Agrifood Waste (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c04318)

• Silver recovery from silicon solar cells waste by hydrometallurgical and electrochemical technique (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2024.103803)

• Closed-Loop Lithium Recovery from LiFePO4 Batteries Using Tartaric Acid Leaching (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00499?goto=supporting-info)