As the global adoption of electric vehicles accelerates, securing battery raw materials has emerged as a critical challenge. On July 23, Naul (CEO Kim Yonghwan) announced that it has succeeded in developing and commercializing an eco-friendly wet recycling technology capable of extracting high-purity and high-yield key raw materials from used electric vehicle batteries.
Naul's technology utilizes a chemical wet process that can simultaneously treat various types of used batteries, including NCM, LFP, and all-solid-state batteries (ASSB). This method prevents fires and explosions that may occur in non-discharged cells and is characterized by its ability to recover more than 98% high-purity electrolyte and black mass.
The recovered electrolyte is reprocessed into lithium sulfide, lithium carbonate, and lithium hydroxide, while the black mass is used as a precursor for manufacturing cathode materials for secondary batteries.
Traditional used battery treatment methods have relied on smelting and drying processes, leading to excessive power consumption and environmental pollution concerns. In contrast, Naul's technology is evaluated as an eco-friendly, carbon-neutral, and ESG-compliant recycling process that significantly reduces environmental impact.
Dr. Sung Youngeun's team at the Photovoltaic Electrochemistry Energy Laboratory of Seoul National University commented, "This technology is a fundamental solution for recovering lithium not only from NCM and LFP batteries but also from next-generation all-solid-state batteries. Its major strength lies in the high-purity recovery of electrolyte and black mass, which prevents environmental issues such as odors, air pollution, and wastewater."
Kim Yonghwan, CEO of Naul, stated, "This technology enables the localization of lithium secondary battery raw materials, which are currently entirely dependent on imports, and establishes a foundation for entering the 600 trillion won used battery market. We have completed domestic and international patent applications and will pursue full-scale commercialization in collaboration with major corporations."
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