Membrane Processes for Extraction of Valuable Materials from Battery and Other Mineral Wastes

The escalating production of lithium-ion batteries, primarily for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, poses a significant challenge due to a limited supply of certain essential materials and the environmental imperative to recycle spent battery components. Various lithium battery chemistries complicate the recovery of their valuable contents, as the properties of the feedstock material can vary significantly from batch to batch. Membrane separation processes, already a staple in industrial applications, offer a flexible and adaptable solution to these challenges. They are particularly promising because some membrane technologies are well-established, while others are still evolving, offering potential for breakthroughs in this field.

This Research Topic aims to compile a comprehensive collection of papers that explore the hydrometallurgical recovery of valuable components from spent lithium-ion batteries, and other related waste sources, with a focus on membrane processes. We are particularly interested in studies that utilize driving forces such as pressure gradients, temperature gradients, concentration gradients, and electrical gradients in membrane-based separations. Special attention will be given to the innovative applications of hybrid and integrated membrane systems that can simultaneously address economic viability, environmental regulations, and resource efficiency in the context of materials circularity. Membrane processes for extraction of valuable materials from other waste secondary sources such as mine waste, waste from auto catalyst production, etc, are also invited.

The scope of this Research Topic is broad yet focused, designed to inspire a diverse array of submissions with membrane technologies applications in minerals recovered from waste. To stimulate advanced research and dialogue, we invite contributions that cover, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Membrane filtration like MF, UF, NF, or RO, and their hybrid variants.
• Electromembrane processes such as ED, BMED, MCDI, FCDI, and their hybrid variants.
• Techniques like membrane distillation, crystallization, and their hybrid versions.
• Innovations in liquid membranes including ELM, SLM, and contactor hybrids.
• Comprehensive studies on integrated membrane processes.
• Explorations of other membrane-supported separations.
• Exploration of battery and related waste streams

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Battery waste, materials extraction, hydrometallurgical recovery, pressure gradients, temperature gradients, concentration gradients, electrical gradients, membrane-based separations

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.