Refining Lithium: Europe's Pioneer

Lithium is an elementary raw material for lithium-ion batteries, which are indispensable in electromobility. Demand for the light metal is rising rapidly. Europe also has lithium deposits, but lacks the necessary capacities for refining and recycling. The processing of lithium mined worldwide is currently dominated by Asian companies – in particular due to their many years of experience and comparatively low construction and operating costs. Helm AG, one of the world's largest chemical companies with more than 100 branches in over 30 countries, is also facing these challenges as a supplier for battery production.

The solution: In the future, lithium from Europe is to be refined and recycled in Helm AG's own processing plant. Together with Porsche Consulting, the company is examining the market situation and cost structure, including investment requirements and running costs. Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, Senior Advisor at Porsche Consulting and former President of Battery Materials & Recycling at BASF, contributed his expertise to the analysis.

Together with Porsche Consulting, Helm AG was able to develop a plan for the construction of a refinery to the latest standards – both for lithium refining and for recycling. The most important regions were prioritized for market entry and the top customers in Europe were identified. The comprehensive analyses also made it possible to determine the profitability of 15 different battery-grade lithium production processes. The type of recycled lithium raw material was evaluated in terms of sustainability, available volume and competition.