SpuRo

Brief description

The SpuRo project develops analytical methods to generate unique “fingerprints” of battery raw materials in their ores or their commercial forms (CAM and pCAM). These fingerprints will feed into a database that enables traceability from primary sources (mining) or secondary sources (recycling) to cell production. This approach also supports quality assessment, comparability between materials, and the certification of recycled content. A certification system will be developed concurrently, informed by comprehensive market analysis and tailored to meet the specific needs of the industry.

Work plan

WP 1: Project coordination, administration, and organization (consortium management by Fraunhofer FFB)

WP 2: Selection and procurement of battery materials to be investigated

The battery materials used for investigation and database creation are selected and procured in WP 2. The materials can be selected from primary sources of ores or so-called pCAM, pre-cathode active materials; CAM, cathode active materials; passive materials such as current collectors; and recycled CAM.

Screening availability, selecting materials for the project, and subsequently procuring them are core aspects of this work package. Attention must also be paid to the accessibility of the materials for the subsequent investigation methods.

WP 3: Qualitative trace analysis

The qualitative composition of the materials selected in WP 1 is to be determined by means of material analysis using suitable techniques, such as ICP-OES. The compounds are examined for trace elements, which may be in the ppm to ppt range. This trace pattern forms the basis for the quality assessment, determination of origin, and further use of the materials in WP 4.

WP 4: Quantitative trace analysis

Based on qualitative trace analysis from WP 3, key elements are selected for closer study due to their different frequencies in various battery materials. Both typical battery elements, important for evaluating recycling history, and non-standard elements, which indicate geographic origin, are included. Calibration with established standards ensures accurate measurement of these elements' concentrations in the raw materials.

WP 5: Database creation and supply chain tracking

A database compiles both qualitative and quantitative data on battery raw materials to facilitate comparison and identify quality differences relative to manufacturer specifications. Secondary material analysis aims to classify materials as recycled by detecting traditional battery elements missing from primary sources, forming the basis for recycled certification. Manufacturer specifications also help determine the geographic origin of raw materials, with plausibility verified against local mining conditions; this supply chain tracing supports potential certification.

WP 6: Certification

WP 6 focuses on identifying standards and certification opportunities for battery material recycling and reuse. It will develop a certification system with an assessment tool for conformity, process quality, and EU compliance. Certification will be customized for industrial use to attract market interest, and pilot projects will test and refine the process with selected manufacturers.

Exploitation of results

Scientific exploitation

During the project, scientific data and research results will be generated with a focus on the analysis of battery materials. These can be published in relevant journals or as conference papers/lecture content. In addition, there is a general opportunity for students to write their theses as part of the project, which will subsequently be added to university libraries and online databases. The chemical analysis methods developed and optimized in the project will continue to be applied and extended to other materials, preferably at the Fraunhofer FFB site (Münster).

Regulatory exploitation

The testing methods and certifications developed in the course of the project for assessing the quality and supply chains of battery raw materials are valuable from the perspective of European legislation in enabling independent verification of regulatory requirements. These relate, among other things, to the traceability of recycled materials and compliance with recycled material quotas in newly manufactured battery cells. Certification by companies such as TÜV Rheinland and its subsidiaries ensures that the project results are utilized.

Economic utilization

A central component of the sustainability strategy is cooperation with industry partners. In addition to regulatory exploitation, which is not necessarily economic in nature, certification and quality assessment enable industrial companies to differentiate their products from the competition. Furthermore, compliance with the requirements and possibly also higher, self-imposed standards facilitates marketing, as the products stand up to independent assessments. Certifications can be exploited economically as a service.