The Biometcri project, promoted by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia - Barcelonatech (UPC), Seat S.A., Pratgir Recycling and the MAV cluster, has ended with very promising results the commitment to circular bioeconomics and the sustainable recovery of valuable metals from electric and hybrid vehicles.

With a pioneering approach, the project has developed a biotechnological process that uses microorganisms to extract critical metals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel and manganese. The results indicate that the recovery of the concentrate contained in these metals has been almost 100%, through the biological process developed by the UPC.

However, it has been observed that the different composition between electric and hybrid batteries influences the percentage of recovery, which introduces a certain variability to the results and opens the door to new studies to optimize the process according to the type of waste.

A sustainable alternative and circular to traditional recycling

The method used for extracting critical metals, called a biolixiviation, offers significant advantages to conventional chemical processes: it requires less energy, allows to reuse residual currents and bacteria used, and has a considerable reduction in operating costs.

This approach positions biometcri as a more efficient, circular and environmentally friendly recycling model, aligned with the sustainability objectives of the European Union.

Close steps

The members of the Consortium highly value the results obtained and already study the continuity of the project to deepen the technical and economic data that allow to evaluate the viability of their implementation on an industrial scale.

"This project demonstrates the potential of biotechnology to transform the way we manage the critical waste of the future, and puts Catalonia at the forefront of the circular economy applied to electric mobility," says MAV.

Biometcri has been funded within the framework of the Reinforcement Initiatives for Competitiveness 2024 (IRC 2024), with a total budget of € 99,991.74 and a grant of € 68,551.02.