From left, researchers Syed Islam and Ramesh Bhave discuss the nickel sulfate recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries using the membrane solvent extraction process they co-invented at ORNL.
ORNL’s Ramesh Bhave sets up the automated control system that is used to adjust the pH of the feed solution in the membrane solvent extraction process for critical materials recycling.
To demonstrate that membrane solvent extraction technology is highly scalable for industrial use, researchers recovered a large amount of rare earth oxides from scrap permanent magnets using membrane solvent extraction technology.
From left, the ORNL Membrane Separation Technologies team includes Zachary Coin, Syed Islam, Mary Hannah Irwin, Ramesh Bhave, Larry Powell, Shailesh Dangwal and Blake Trusty.
ORNL’s Syed Islam weighs nickel sulfate recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries to determine the yield and efficiency of the critical material recovery process.