A grid-level alkali liquid metal battery recycling process : design, implementation, and characterization

Abstract

The application of liquid metal batteries for large scale grid-level energy storage is being enabled through the development of research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2006. A recycling process to facilitate the end-of-life cycle for alkali or alkaline earth liquid metal batteries was designed, implemented, and characterized through a collaboration between MIT and a battery company. The process developed utilizes recycling methodologies developed and successfully implemented for the recycling of lead-acid and lithium ion batteries. The two methodologies selected for implementation were physical separation and hydrometallurgical material separation. The combination of these two methods results in the liquid metal battery process being carried out at near room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The characterization conducted demonstrated that the developed recycling process is feasible and scalable for future development.