| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 6, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 29, 2019 |
| Award Number: | 1738027 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Anna Brady-Estevez
TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2017 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2021 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $559,913.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $1,177,850.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2018 = $110,000.00 FY 2019 = $507,937.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
54 ROCKDALE ST WORCESTER MA US 01606-1928 (206)948-6325 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
200 Westboro Road North Grafton MA US 01536-0071 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | SBIR Phase II |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to demonstrate the feasibility of Battery Resourcers recycling process on a scale that has commercial significance. This will further allow Battery Resourcers to scale its process such that it can be a player in the lithium ion battery recycling market place. Battery Resourcers' ultimate goal is into increase recycling rates of spent Li-ion batteries by providing an economically viable domestic recycling option. Additionally, Battery Resourcers process produces low cost cathode materials for the battery industry which may ultimately further enable green technologies like solar, wind and electric vehicles.
This SBIR Phase 1 award proposes to scale the Battery Resourcers recycling process from 50kg to 0.5 tons of spent Li-ion batteries. The proposed research focuses on process speed, safety and the quality of the recovered materials. Rate limiting steps in Battery Resourcers recycling process will be studied with an effort to improve process speed. Specifically, Battery Resourcers will look at new filtering methods for the solutions generated in its process. A method to safety shred Li-ion batteries is examined by controlling the atmosphere and removing the batteries' stored energy. Finally, the production of quality cathode materials from spent Li-ion batteries is scaled from 50kg to 0.5 tons. Battery Resourcers' goal is to produce commercial quality cathode powder on a scale that matters to industry.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Battery Resourcers is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Battery Resourcers is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.
The research in this award directly lead to Battery Resourcers developing and piloting cathode materials from recycled batteries for Department of Defense applications. Battery Resourcers’ capability to recover cathode materials and control the morphology of the end product from a Li-ion battery source with mixed cathode chemistry was key in developing the product for defense applications. The technology development that occured under this award also lead to Battery Resourcers first full scale commercial facility in Georgia. The strategically located facility will have the capacity to process 30,000 metric tons of discarded lithium-ion batteries and scrap annually, the equivalent of 70,000 vehicle batteries per year. Its innovative recycling process will return battery grade lithium, cobalt, and nickel back into the battery supply chain.
This research resulting in closed loop cathode material recycling for Li-ion batteries is the first step towards the companies goal of returning 100% of active materials back to batteries.
Last Modified: 02/06/2022
Modified by: Eric Gratz
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