Innovative graphite recycling awarded as top European innovation
Anna Vanderbruggen receives the EIT CHANGE Award for her revolutionary graphite extraction method which could decrease the environmental footprint of battery production
Each year, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) celebrates the entrepreneurial and societal achievements of its innovators. They are honored with the EIT awards in four categories: CHANGE, Innovators, Venture and Women Leadership. Anna Vanderbruggen received the CHANGE Award for her innovative method on Graphite recycling from used lithium-ion batteries. That´s also the topic of her PhD thesis she is working on at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), an institute of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Eva Kaili (left; Vice President of the European Parliament) and Anna Vanderbruggen at the award ceremony of the EIT CHANGE Award in Brussels
EIT/Gregory de Leeuw, photographer for David Plas Photography
Vanderbruggen developed a revolutionary new way to extract valuable graphite from used lithium-ion batteries. Her method, the first of its kind, separates the fine powder from crushed lithium-ion batteries into two valuable products instead of one. This process enables the efficient and highly selective recycling of both graphite and metals from used lithium-ion batteries. “My approach uses the method of froth flotation, which is proven in the raw materials industry, to recycle graphite. Froth flotation is an established and efficient process for separating valuable minerals from waste rock for particle sizes of about 10 to 200 micrometer. Graphite usually represents 15% - 25% of the battery’s weight. By recovering the graphite in addition to the 50% of metals which is already possible – recyclers can meet the EU's 70% materials recycling requirement, which will apply from 2030 onwards,” Vanderbruggen explains.
The objective is a truly circular battery supply chain, one that will help decrease the environmental footprint of battery production and the reliance on raw materials imports from outside the EU. Beside her work for the HIF Anna is part of the EIT RawMaterials-supported start-up Erzlabor, which characterizes materials and analyzes complex resources. “This EIT competition was an amazing experience! It was an opportunity to promote my research to another level and also to meet great people!“, Vanderbruggen says delighted. The award is also very important for the HZDR, because "Anna Vanderbruggen's success demonstrates the topicality of the research conducted at the HZDR. On the other hand, it stands for the enormous potential of young researchers. Her award makes us proud and we congratulate wholeheartedly," says Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, Scientific Director of the HZDR.
The CHANGE Award acknowledges top graduates from EIT entrepreneurial education programmes. As Anna is a graduate from the EIT Emerald master´s program she was nominated for the award by EIT RawMaterials. “It is exactly this level of innovation that will enable Europe to achieve the goals of the green transition and we are so proud to have supported her journey”, says Bernd Schäfer, CEO and Managing Director at EIT RawMaterials. By highlighting ground-breaking innovations, the annual EIT Awards showcase how young talents addressing some of Europe's biggest challenges.
Other news from the department science
These products might interest you
Battery Testing Services by Battery Dynamics
Learn more about the performance and service life of your battery cells in less time
Benefit from modern measurement technology and an experienced team
Batt-TDS by ystral
YSTRAL Batt-TDS mixing and dispersing machine
Boost your battery slurry process
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
Most read news
More news from our other portals
See the theme worlds for related content
Topic World Battery Technology
The topic world Battery Technology combines relevant knowledge in a unique way. Here you will find everything about suppliers and their products, webinars, white papers, catalogs and brochures.
Topic World Battery Technology
The topic world Battery Technology combines relevant knowledge in a unique way. Here you will find everything about suppliers and their products, webinars, white papers, catalogs and brochures.
