- Ion exchange resin is used to purify metal concentrations, and the elimination of
- contaminants like boron selectively yields high-
- purity precursors Compared to current procedures, they are more sustainable and efficient.
March 12, 2025, Mumbai A fresh approach to the quickly expanding battery market is being provided by LANXESS. LANXESS’s Lewatit MK 51 ion exchange resin eliminates boron from metal in a selective manner. concentrations, making it possible to separate high-purity raw materials for battery application.
Ion exchange technology doesn’t use any combustible, ecologically hazardous chemicals like solvent extraction does. This saves money and allows users to operate sustainably. expenses, since explosion protection is not required for the plants. The ability to construct ion exchange plants more compactly is an additional benefit.
“We are increasing our solution portfolio for the battery industry with Lewatit MK 51 for the selective removal of boron from metal concentrates like e.g. lithium ore,” explains Dr. Dirk Steinhilber, Application LANXESS’s Liquid Purification Technologies business segment has a technology manager.
Lewatit MK51 eliminates impurities of boron.
In order to create premium batteries with a high energy density and an extended lifespan, battery metals like cobalt, nickel, and lithium, must be accessible in the clearest manner imaginable. When mining for ore,
Because of the nature of the ore, these metals are frequently contaminated with boron. To ensure the battery metals are as pure as possible following extraction, this boron needs to be carefully eliminated.The Lewatit MK51 we have is Since it solely binds boron, it is perfect for this function. The resin is unaffected by other metal concentrate ingredients such sulphate, hydrogen carbonate, and chloride. According to Steinhilber, this makes it easier to produce high-purity battery metal concentrates that can subsequently undergo additional processing.
Methods that are sustainable
High-performance batteries with a good performance can be produced using extremely efficient refining procedures made possible by the use of ion exchangers. water balance and CO2. From cleaning the raw ores to removing the pure metals, a significant amount of water is consumed during the ore processing process. For ecological and financial reasons, it is imperative that the metal ions in this water be recovered and, if required, separated.
Certain metal ions can be selectively bound by Lewatit ion exchange resins. By-products like zinc from nickel and cobalt electrolytes or cobalt from nickel salt solutions can also be eliminated with them. The For additional processing or recovery from wastewater streams, metal ions are extracted from the aqueous solution and concurrently concentrated on the ion exchange resin.
In 2023, LANXESS, a prominent speciality chemicals firm, generated EUR 6.7 billion in sales. Currently, the corporation employs 12,600 people throughout 32 countries. LANXESS’s primary operations include the creation, production, and distribution of chemical intermediates, additives, and consumer items for protection. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index’s top sustainability indices (DJSI World and Europe) include LANXESS.
Statements for the Future
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