BIOCO2PRO aims to develop a circular and low-carbon value chain that converts biomass, organic waste and spent lithium-ion batteries into valuable products for sustainable battery manufacturing and clean energy production. It addresses the growing demand for lithium while reducing the environmental impacts of battery production, waste management and carbon emissions. The project integrates biomass gasification, biological conversion, CO₂ capture and utilization, battery recycling and process intensification technologies to convert biomass and organic waste into renewable hydrogen, biogenic CO₂ and volatile fatty acids. The captured CO₂ is utilized for lithium recovery and production of battery-grade lithium carbonate, while innovative processes enable the recovery of lithium and other valuable metals from battery waste with reduced chemical consumption and waste generation. Volatile fatty acids produced during the biological processes will also be assessed as sustainable leaching agents for metal recovery, enhancing process circularity. Advanced membrane separation, electrodialysis and rotating packed bed reactor technologies will be employed to improve lithium purification, maximize resource recovery and produce high-purity lithium carbonate with reduced energy demand. At the same time, renewable hydrogen generated within the process provides an additional clean energy carrier that supports industrial decarbonization. BIOCO2PRO will establish a near-zero-waste process with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional approaches. It will contribute to resource security, reduced dependence on primary lithium extraction and increased sustainability of battery value chains. Through techno-economic and environmental assessments, BIOCO2PRO will demonstrate the feasibility and scalability of this innovative circular approach, supporting the transition towards a climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy.
