MICROBIAL BATTERY RECYCLING

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© BRAIN Biotech AG Zwingenberg Germany www.brain-biotech.com +49 (0) 6251-9331-0
Creating a #BiobasedFuture
Microbial battery recycling
- Bioeconomy meets e-mobility -
Gina Kuippers
EV Battery Recycling & Reuse, March 28th 2022

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What actually is Bioeconomy?

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Bioeconomy: Feeding the world‘s growing population
Sweet proteins
produced by yeast:
Brazzein
Milk proteins produced
by fungi:
casein
Probiotics for fish
farming
Industrial Biotechnology: using high-performance microbes

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Bioeconomy: Delivering carbon-efficient solutions
Fermentation of
organic waste
streams to
produce gas,
fuels or value
products
Enzymatic reycling
of plastics,
production of
sustainable
materials
Microbial capture
and usage of
CO2 to produce
fuels, monomers,
proteins
Biobased,
chemical-free
extraction of
metals from e-
waste or black
mass

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BRAIN Biotech AG
BRAIN Group headquarter and innovation center in Zwingenberg, Germany
1993
Year of Foundation
> 150
Industrial Partnerships
2016
IPO, Frankfurt Prime Standard
135
Employees

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Based on both natural biodiversity and our BioArchive alike, we focus on three
product categories for highly diverse applications:
Our product platforms
Customized
Enzymes
Bioactive Natural
Compounds
High-performance
Microorganisms

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Long-term cooperations with renowned (global) companies
Track-record of BRAIN Biotech AG Industry Partnerships
Industrial
Partner*
*confidential partnerships not disclosed
Speciality
Enzymes
Bioactive
Natural
Compounds
High-performance
Microorganisms

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Creating #Microbial Battery Recycling
Disruptive.
Green.
Scalable.
How microbes enable circular battery recycling
#CircularBatteries #SustainableMetalExtraction #BiobasedFuture

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Lightweight
construction
- Biochemical recycling of fibres
and plastic
- Sustainable, biobased
materials
- Scandium for lightweight alloys
Tires
Microbial devulcanization of
rubber
Battery
materials
CO2-based recycling of
„black mass“
Electronic
parts & wiring
precious metal and
copper recycling
BRAIN’s solutions to make EVs even more sustainable
Probiotics for
surfaces & textiles
Reduction of toxic species
Malodour control of textiles

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Batteries are the big challenge
No driving emissions, but high CO2-footprint in EV production
Reduce & Recycle!
CO2 emissions are mainly caused by metal mining
• Lithium and cobalt are key, supply is limited
• About 60% of cobalt is produced in DR Congo, mainly
by artisanal mining under hard and hazardous
conditions
• Lithium is produced from ores or salines in energy-
intensive processes

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Emis
Existing recycling processes are under pressure
High energy and costs
Big carbon footprint
Agressive chemicals
Energy prices rise with a
CAGR of 3.1%
CO2 emissions will be
severely taxed (>100 €/t)
Low efficiency
Lithium not recovered by
smelting processes
Green Deal set to save fossil
and mineral resources
Better technologies are needed !

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We propse a recycling process that…
• is low in energy consumption and has a small carbon footprint
• uses chemicals from renewable resources, preferably waste
streams or even CO2
• has no toxic emissions
• provides selective and efficient metal extraction
• is decentralized, modular & can be integrated in existing processes

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Conventional hydrometallurgical battery recycling
Metal extraction
with harsh
chemicals

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Our Concept for Biobased Battery Recycling
USP:
Microbial biosolvent
production from
sustainable sources

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Our Concept for Biobased Battery Recycling

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Feedstock 1: Valorization of CO2 in battery recycling
triacylglycerides (C16-C18; lipids)
acetone (solvent; C3)
caproate and caprylate
(fatty acids; C6, C8)
ethanol (solvent; C2)
itaconate (di-acid; C5)
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrates
mevalonate (di-acid; C5)
CO2 to C4 – succinate
CO2 to C3 – undisclosed
realization –
BRAIN R&D projects
Pilot in Preparation
Program started
with industry partner 2
CO2 to biosolvent
acetate as building block for
chemicals discussed / disclosed in public domain
e.g. for battery recycling
Interested to partner with us?

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Feedstock 2: Screening for biosolvent producers
Formic
acid
Acetic acid
Succinic
acid
Malic acid
Tartaric
acid
Citric acid
Ascorbic
acid
Gluconic
acid
Oxalic acid
Lactic acid
200+ heterotrophic acid producer strains
Microbial Toolbox
Glycerol
Step 1: Acid
production
Biometallurgical process

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Case study: Biosolvents from organic waste streams
• Biosolvent produced by fungal fermentation from different waste streams
• High space-time yield high in a continuous process
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
0 100 200 300
Space
Time
Yield
[gl-1h-1]
Time [h]
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
3,0
0 100 200 300
Space
Time
Yield
[gl-1h-1]
Time [h]
Feed: Crude glycerol Feed: sugar beet syrup
fed-batch fermentation perfusion fermentation

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0
20
40
60
80
100
Spent grain Sugarbeet syrup
Metal
[%]
1st bioleaching step
Step 1: Selective bioleaching of Lithium
Fermented pomaces
Li
Li
other metals other metals
Biosolvent 1 leaches Lithium selectively (so far up to 95%)
Product 1:
Lithium

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Step 2: Efficient dissolution of black mass metals
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sulphuric acid Biosolvent 2
Metal
[%]
2nd bioleaching step
In solubilization process biosolvent 2 performs as good as benchmark
Fe
Mn
Al
Co Ni
Fe
Mn
Al
Co
Ni
(benchmark)

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Step 3: Highly selective NMC production step
With biosolvent 3 highly pure NMC precursor material generated
0
20
40
60
80
100
Sulphuric acid +
Biosolvent 3
Biosolvent 2 +
Biosolvent 3
Metal
[%]
Third precipitation of Ni, Mn & Co
Fe
Mn
Al Co Ni
Fe Al
Product 2:
NMC
precursor
Metals dissolved
(benchmark)
precipitation

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Product 1:
Lithium
Sustainable procress: 3 simple steps to recycle black mass
Classical Hydrometallurgy:
Biometallurgy:
+ Biosolvent 1
+ Biosolvent 2
+ Biosolvent 3
Fe, Al
Source: Velázquez-Martínez et al., 2019; Review in Batteries
Black mass
Black mass - Li
Soluble metal fraction
Product 2:
NMC precursor Products
Black mass

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Microbial Battery Recycling to become reality
Done
Next
• Screening accomplished and microbial toolbox generated
• Proof-of-principle bioextraction of black mass 
• Technology established and scaled up in related projects (TRL5-6) 
• IP secured (FTO) 
• Team up with innovative automotive, recycling and battery production companies
• Scale up technology (TRL 7-8)
• Construct and operate demo plant
• Commercial role-out: own operations (partner), licensing to third parties
BRAIN BioXtractor pilot plant

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Bioeconomy for a carbon neutral future
Disruptive.
Green.
Scalable.
Join us to implement Microbial Battery Recycling!

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This document may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, as they
relate to future events and are based on current assumptions of the Company, which may not occur at all in the future or may not occur as
assumed. They do not represent a guarantee for future results or performance of the Company, and the development of economic and legal
conditions may materially differ from the information expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein or to adapt them to future events
or developments. The information contained in this document has not been independently verified. No representation or warranty expressed
or implied is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or
opinion contained herein. The Company or any of its shareholders, affiliates, advisors, employees or representatives shall have no liability
whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss arising from any use of this document or its content or otherwise arising in connection
with this document.
By accepting this presentation you acknowledge that you will be solely responsible for your own assessment of the market and the market
position of the Company and that you will conduct your own analysis and be solely responsibility for forming your own view of the potential
future performance of the Company’s business.
Neither the delivery of this presentation nor any further discussions of the Company with any of the recipients shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since such date. The term “BRAIN”, as
used in this presentation means BRAIN Biotech AG and its affiliates, if not otherwise specified.
Disclaimer

@BRAINbiotech
BRAIN Biotech AG
Thank you
for your attention.
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Dr. Gina Kuippers
Technical Business
Development
gk@brain-biotech.com
+49 (0) 6251-9331-64

MICROBIAL BATTERY RECYCLING

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