MET63 developed a flowsheet to recover high-purity base metals (copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel) from black mass. The scope included pre-feasibility and FEED studies for a semi-continuous pilot plant and integration of unit operations from multiple suppliers.

Challenge
A France-based company needed to recover high-purity base metals from recycled motor vehicle batteries, but no flowsheet existed to integrate the necessary unit operations from multiple different suppliers into a single working pilot plant.

Outcome
MET63 developed a flowsheet targeting recovery of copper, cobalt, lithium and nickel from black mass, then delivered a pre-feasibility study and FEED study (FEL-3) for a ~50 t/a semi-continuous hydrometallurgical modular pilot plant, integrating unit operations from various suppliers into one coherent design.