Bacteria will chew through dead electric vehicle batteries to recover lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The BioMine project, led by CellMine with Impact Solutions and the University of Edinburgh, uses microorganisms to extract critical minerals from lithium-ion battery waste instead of the usual chemical-intensive, energy-hungry recycling methods. As the battery market expands sharply toward 2030, the world faces a growing pile of spent batteries and a precarious supply chain for the metals needed to build new ones. Current recycling relies on high temperatures or corrosive chemicals, producing its own waste stream. BioMine’s biological approach aims to pull out more material—nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium—while using less energy and generating less waste. If it works at scale, the process could slot directly into existing recycling chains, reducing the UK’s reliance on mined imports and cutting the environmental cost of every new EV battery. The project is not fundamental science; it is an applied engineering challenge focused on making bio-processing economically viable and ready for industrial use.
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BioMine, led by CellMine in collaboration with Impact Solutions, and The University of Edinburgh aims to revolutionise lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling by utilising innovative bio-processing techniques. This initiative addresses the growing demand for lithium and other critical minerals essential for the electric vehicle (EV) market and renewable energy sectors. With the LIB market expected to expand significantly by 2030, BioMine seeks to enable sustainable bio-processing routes into LIB recycling chains. This innovation seeks to reduce the reliance on high chemical reagent and energy use and well as reducing the amount of waste produced in typical recycling processes. BioMine's approach leverages advanced recycling technologies and bio-processing innovation to improve the recovery rates of valuable materials, such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium, from end-of-life LIBs, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional recycling methods. This project is not only about advancing recycling technology but also about ensuring the process is scalable and economically viable, aligning with global efforts to secure a sustainable supply chain for critical minerals. Supported by Innovate UK, BioMine exemplifies the power of international collaboration in driving forward technological innovations that can lead to new industry standards and contribute to economic growth within the UK. The project focuses on creating a sustainable and efficient method for recycling LIBs, aiming to reduce the environmental impact associated with the disposal and treatment of these batteries.
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