EKATO provides a vacuum contact drying solution for recovering black mass and electrolytes from shredded EV batteries. The system uses modular dryers that allow for selective removal and recovery of electrolytes like DMC, EMC, and EC through adjustable temperature and pressure controls. This achieves nearly 100% electrolyte recovery while minimizing exhaust emissions.
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DRYING SOLUTION FOR RECOVERING BLACK MASS AND ELECTROLYTES
1. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
EKATO‘s Drying Solution for
Recovering Black Mass and Electrolytes
Marian Scherer
March 14th 2023
EKATO SYSTEMS GmbH
2. Agenda
A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
1. Introduction: the EKATO Group
• Know-How, History and References
2. EKATO´s Drying Solution for Recovering Black Mass
and Electrolytes
• Vacuum contact drying
• Modular dryer configurations
• Condensation and recovery of electrolytes – how it works
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Webinar
EKATO Drying solution for EV Battery-Recycling
Presentation of EKATO vacuum contact drying technology for drying of
shredded EV batteries.
20 April
2023
9.00 – 09.45 am (CEST)
3.00 – 03.45 pm (CEST)
Free of
charge
Register here: am session pm session
3. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
EKATO Rühr- und
Mischtechnik GmbH
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• Customized agitators
• Reactor modules
• Process plants
• Mechanical seals & supply
systems
EKATO FLUID Misch- und
Dispergiertechnik GmbH
• Industrial agitators
• Side-entry agitators
• Agitators for small volumes
EKATO SYSTEMS GmbH
• Vacuum process mixing plants
• Mixers & dryers for solids
A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Also for plastic recycling
EV Lithium and LFP battery recycling
4. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Key Figures EKATO GROUP
Annual turnover Export rate Agitators & plants
Companies Employees R&D - rate
€ 340 Mio. >85 % >300.000 total
16 >900 ~7 %
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EKATO has been a family business since it was founded in 1933
5. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
EKATO proven know-how
years of EKATO mixing know-how
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years of EKATO SOLIDMIX Vacuum Contact
Drying Know-how
6. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Worldwide SOLIDMIX installations & references
Vertical mixers and dryers
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VPT vacuum contact dryers in total
VPT pharma dryers
7. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
EKATO Subsidiaries
EKATO USA in New
Jersey
EKATO Chile
EKATO India
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EKATO Africa
EKATO Netherlands
EKATO Russia
EKATO Singapore
EKATO Australia
EKATO China
EKATO Japan
8. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
EKATO‘s Drying Solution for
Recovering Black Mass and Electrolytes
Marian Scherer
March 14th 2023
EKATO SYSTEMS GmbH
9. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
When is Vacuum Contact Drying used EV battery recycling?
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• Recycling of Lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
• Still mainly from production scrap, later after their second life.
Deep
discharging
Disassembly Shredding
Vacuum Contact
Drying
(optional) (optional)
Hydrometallurgy
N2 nitrogen
atmosphere
Mechan
ical
Separat-
ion
BLACK MASS
(or with H2O)
10. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Components of an EKATO vacuum contact drying system
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10
Video 1: EKATO SOLIDMIX VPT drying system
Start the video, by clicking
on the button
11. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Mixing
For an even temperature distribution and a maximum heat transfer, axial/radial mixing of the entire bulk is mandatory.
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12. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S www.ekato.com | 12
The EKATO Drying Plant can be added to any existing or
future concept
Output 1:
Dry Black Mass /
shredded flakes
Output 2:
Recovered and condensed
electrolytes
Input utilities:
• Electricity for drives, heater and chiller
• Nitrogen for explosion suppression
• Compressed air for actuators
• City water for cooling
Optional shredder
exhaust air treatment
Input: wet mass
Output 3:
Nitrogen with
solvent at
saturation level
Exhaust air
treatment
EKATO Scope of Supply
EKATO Scope of Supply
13. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Drying concept with 2 redundant dryers (evaporation of
EMC, DMC and EC (high boilers)
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Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Heating
Discharging
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Discharging Heating
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Heating
Discharging
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Discharging Heating
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Heating
Discharging
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Discharging Heating
Filling
Drying DMC & EMC
Heating
Discharging
Drying EC
Drying EC
Drying EC
Drying EC
Drying EC
Drying EC
Drying EC
dryer 1 dryer 2
Process sequence • Both dryers operate separately
• The steps are offset to each other, as there is only one shredder
• Evaporation of
• low boiling electrolytes DMC & EMC and
high-boiling components (e.g., EC)
• This concept needs 2 separate lines with 2 solvent recovery systems
→ Maximum flexibility regarding process adjustments for any future process requirements
14. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
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Selective removing and recovery of electrolytes, water and
other solvents
• Electrolytes such as DMC, EMC and EC have different vapor pressure
curves and therefore evaporate at different vessel pressures
• For optimum solvent separation during evaporating and recovery, we
have two parameters:
• Adjustable vessel pressure
• Adjustable product temperature control
• Pressure levels for medium and low levels need vacuum pumps.
• Typically, such vacuum pumps work in the area from
0.2 mbar to 500 mbar.*
• Precise temperature control can prevent undesired chemical reactions
and degradations of product ingredients.
• The Solvent Recovery System collects nearly all electrolytes
with only a small investment of cooling power
• Small quantities of exhaust air need to be treated
• Costly investments in large RTOs or huge filter systems can be avoided
* IP and patents must be respected
Solvent
Solvent 1
15. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S
Condensation: how it works
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For a deeper insight into vacuum contact drying, consult our recording (API Post drying webinar), by clicking on the play button
16. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S www.ekato.com | 16
Summary / our strengths 1
• High throughput version:
Pre-engineered and modular solutions up to 8 t/h
Shredder feeds continuously
Buffering optional
• Equipment designed for maximum flexibility (for your future products):
99,x % recovery rate of the electrolyte. 2023 design already meets 202X EU
regulations.
Wide range of pressures / temperature settings for maximum plant flexibility*
High degree of solvent recovery for negligible emission post-treatments and a low
environmental footprint
• Solvents levels below 0.25% are reached within minutes.
• In an emergency, the system holds a safe, emission free position.
• Small scale testing (50 liters) allows a safe scale-up to any commercially available plant
size:
0,5 t/hr., 1 t/hr., 2 t/hr., 4 t/hr., 8 t/hr equipment
* IP and patents must be respected
17. A D V A N C E D P R O C E S S S O L U T I O N S www.ekato.com | 17
Summary / our strengths 2
• Flexibility in products
• Drying of shredded batteries with the option to switch to black mass or shredded
foils
• The solvent recovery system is designed to recover solvents beyond the typical
EMC/DMC/EC/water contents of battery scrap
• Worldwide installation and service
• Europe PED and CE marking a
• USA , ASME code, NEC 500 and explosion proof topics
• China, China Stamp
• Asia, PED
• Integration
• EKATO scope can be integrated in most recycling plant concepts
• Clear scope of supply with precise integration in the plant
• Start-up support, installation support, thorough training