Process simulation for Li-MnO2 primary battery recycling: Cryo-mechanical and hydrometallurgical treatments at pilot scale
Li primary batteries are currently treated along with other Li batteries in several big pyro- metallurgical plants in Northern EU countries. Nevertheless, pyro-metallurgical processes do not allow for Mn and Li recycling and present negative environmental impacts, on the other hand hydrometallurgical processing can potentially ensure the integral recovery of all materials in Li primary batteries. In this work, preliminary experimental findings obtained in the LIFE-LIBAT project (LIFE16 ENV/IT/000389) are reported.