Lithium Battery Manufacturing Solutions Charged for Success

Lithium Processing from Brine

Brine sources include underground lakes or Salars, hot geothermal reservoirs and brines associated with petroleum production. Improved filtration and separation can play an important role in improving both the process reliability for producing consistent high purity products and also for improving the product yields, reducing product re-work, reducing operation costs and reducing carbon intensity in production.

Lithium Processing from Spodumene

Spodumene concentrate ore is converted into either Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Hydroxide for use as an essential component to make Lithium-Ion Batteries. Improved filtration and separation can play an important role in improving both the process reliability for producing consistent high purity products and also for improving the product yields, reducing product  re-work, reducing operation costs and reducing carbon intensity in production.

Lithium Carbonate to Lithium Hydroxide

The EV market is revolutionizing transportation through lithium-ion battery technology. EV demand will skyrocket over five times 2022 production values by 2031, requiring high-purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate for battery formulation.

Cathode Active Materials

The cathode or positive electrode is made of a very pure mix of metal oxides containing lithium. The more uniform its chemical composition and crystal structure, the better battery performance and life is. To meet the EV battery manufacturers’ specifications, high performance filtration solutions are required at the different fabrication stages to produce pure and uniform cathode active materials.

Separator

For the separators to function optimally, it is important that the polymeric materials they are made of are filtered prior to their formation. These high-performance filtration solutions are used widely across many  different fabrication processes to achieve the separators required technical specifications, cleanliness quality, and uniformity of the polymeric materials.

Electrolyte

To maximize the performance of the electrolyte, i.e. high ionic conductivity associated to a high chemical/electrochemical stability, solid particle content must be minimized. To do so, the liquid electrolyte must be filtered before the filling phase. Moisture in the electrolyte can result in the formation of hydrofluoric acid (HF) from fluoride lithium salts. Since HF can corrode certain metals, such as piping on equipment or internal battery components, it is critical to prevent moisture from coming in contact with the electrolyte

One of the key considerations in the EV market is the  quality and cost of batteries. Compared to small devices, batteries for electric cars need to meet much higher standards for performance and safety. This is where Pall’s filtration products come into play. They play a crucial role in improving the manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries, ultimately helping to reduce operating costs.

In the process of recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) through hydrometallurgy, several important steps are involved. Filtration plays a crucial role in ensuring the overall process's efficiency and quality. Learn more about the significance of the process and the filtration solutions.