Page 171 - CW E-Magazine (20-8-2024)

News from Abroad

companies seek higher returns on in mineral refining to become the lead- unprofitable. Automaker’s integration
extended producer responsibility (EPR) ing maker of EVs, the rest of the world of battery recycling is unlikely until
mandates and China pursues improved focuses on loosening the Asian giant’s EV batteries, not manufacturing scrap,
economics on LFP (Lithium Iron Phos- hold. Brazil is aspiring to be South becomes the dominant feedstock.
phate) battery recycling, he added. America’s China, while the US is pur-
suing sources of precious minerals out- Venture funding for recycling grows
Three recycling technologies side China. The US government has also Venture funding for battery recycling
Three major recycling processes have budgeted $7-bn to advance domestic start-ups rose to $4.5-bn in 2023, dou-
emerged as viable options, with varied refining of minerals, cell manufacturing, bling from the previous year. The bulk
levels of technology readiness for com- and recycling of batteries. The EU and of the investments came from the US,
mercial scaling. Direct recycling restores several other countries are investing bil- on the strength of the Inflation Reduction
battery materials for reuse in batteries or lions of dollars to achieve similar goals. Act of 2022. Investors include battery
energy storage, while hydrometallurgy makers, refiners, mining giants, and auto-
enables liquid recovery of all minerals, albeit Automakers are investing in, but not makers. Also driving recycling are joint
with higher wastes and higher emissions integrating battery recycling ventures between automakers and battery
of greenhouse gases. Pyrometallurgy, the To meet EPR mandates, automakers recyclers. Incumbents across battery and
industry incumbent, accepts mixed chemis- secure agreements with recyclers for col- automobile manufacturing like General
try waste, but triggers higher emissions lection, transportation, and recycling of Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, and
and does not usually recycle lithium. their batteries. A select few companies – LG help scale innovative recycling tech-
BYD, Tesla, and Northvolt – integrated nologies from Aqua Metals, SK Group,
Global focus on building China alternatives recycling within their facilities, but most and Ascend Elements through offtake
With China leveraging its strength automakers view current recycling as agreements or technology licensing.

LOW-CARBON FUTURE
Sinopec launches carbon footprint alliance with

eight energy & chemicals firms

Chinese state-owned energy major, technical expertise and cooperation.
Sinopec, has set up the ‘Energy and “The members are poised to estab-
Chemical Industry Chain Carbon Foot- lish a product carbon footprint man-
print Alliance’ in Beijing, China. agement system and develop carbon
footprint accounting standards for
The initiative, spearheaded by 20 key products by 2027, alongside
eight leading Chinese companies in a localised product carbon footprint
the energy and chemical sectors, in- factor database, fostering inter-
cluding Sinopec, CNPC, and CNOOC, footprint calculation mechanism by national exchange and mutual standard
will see the alliance members jointly 2027. The alliance issued a declara- recognition to strengthen global
establish a carbon footprint manage- tion for its missions, committing to climate governance,” Sinopec said in
ment system with an improved carbon creating an open platform for sharing a statement.

CATERING TO SEMICONDUCTOR
JSR closes Yamanaka Hutech acquisition

Japanese chemicals firm, JSR Cor- makes YHC a wholly-owned subsi- ductor film-forming technologies. “The
poration, has announced the comple- diary of JSR, was finalised on August 1, acquisition constitutes a step forward
tion of its acquisition of all outstanding 2024. in JSR’s growth strategy, which antici-
shares of Yamanaka Hutech Corpora- pates industry reorganisation and aims
tion (YHC), a manufacturer of high- The move is expected to help JSR to to solidify its standing in the advanced
purity chemicals used in the semicon- diversify and reinforce its product line- semiconductor materials,” JSR said in
ductor industry. The transaction, which up, especially with regard to semicon- a press note.

Chemical Weekly August 20, 2024 171

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