Sustainability - Repurposing and recycling batteries by HolE-LIB
HolE-LIB – Developing a Holistic Ecosystem for Sustainable Repurposing and/or Recycling of Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) in Norway and EU
A project in the Interdisciplinary Sustainable Initiatives at NTNU
Call for applications: 5 PhD positions
Application deadline has expired.
About the project
From a Norwegian perspective, the battery value chain can be seen as an exceptional sustainable value creation opportunity primarily based on Norway's comparative advantage with a competence-driven materials sector based on renewable power.
The sustainability depends in part on the ability to reuse and recycle batteries and the compounds they contain. Research into factors which affect customer acceptance in case of repurposed batteries is so far extremely limited.
On the other hand, a robust recycling process needs to be developed that can cater to different battery types, designs, chemistries, etc. for competitive disruption of the battery market. Currently, there exists no techno-economically efficient Li recycling process and further, the graphite from lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes is not recycled.
Development of innovative separation processes are expected to positively impact the circular economy and enable sustainable business model (SBM) innovation.
The project involves specialists within engineering, design and economics through a multi-disciplinary research collaboration across six departments and four faculties at NTNU.
The current project will develop a holistic understanding of the fate of end-of-life batteries by addressing technical, economic, and design perspectives along the battery value chain, complemented by evaluation of sustainable business model scenarios within reuse, repurposing and recycling.
PhD Position in:
Development of Green Solvents for Metals Recovery from End-of-Life LIBs
Department of Chemical Engineering
The research work will involve development of solvents for selective Li recovery at low pH. The focus will be on experimental evaluation of selectivity and extraction performance of selected solvents, experimental characterization of solvent and feasibility study of the process, including possibilities to recycle the solvent.
Application deadline has expired.
PhD Position in:
Closing the Battery Loop Using Pyro-hydro Metallurgy
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
We aim to push for closing the battery materials loop by converting black mass into a mixed metallic product directly suitable for cathode remanufacturing. Using combination of pyro and hydrometallurgy, the focus will be to maximize recycling critical materials towards circular economy and resource efficiency.
Application deadline has expired.
PhD Position in:
Recovering Materials from End-of-Life LIBs using Green Chemistry
Department of Geoscience and Petroleum
The focus will be on developing environmentally sustainable recovery of the metallic and non-metallic components from end-of-life LIBs using physical and chemical methods. Of primary interest, is recovery of graphite and leaching of metals mediated by environmentally benign reagents and purification by foam flotation.
Application deadline has expired.
PhD Position in:
Design for Sustainability - User Acceptance of Repurposed LIBs
Department of Design
Batteries evoke emotions of both convenience, cheapness, sustainability but also uncertainty, disgust and even fear. The main focus here will be on consumer and market research to understand customer acceptance of repurposed end-of-life batteries in various household/home/cabin application contexts.
Application deadline has expired.
PhD Position in:
Sustainable Business Models of Repurposed and Recycled LIBs
Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management
We will address how advancements in the repurposing and recycling of LIBs can facilitate sustainable business model innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Such innovations and other changes in the value chain of LIBs can lead to new business models, support business model transformation, diversification, or acquisition.
Application deadline has expired.