NUOVOpb - A unique Lead Acid Battery (LAB) recycling technology to reduce CO2 emissions by 89%, reduce waste by 81%, and transform the battery recycling industry

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"Lead Acid Batteries (LABs) are a vital and widely-used technology. Invented in 1859, LABs are the most mature rechargeable battery technology available, making up half the global demand for rechargeable batteries.To meet recycling targets, in developed economies, the lead metal from waste LABs is smelted in furnaces at 1,100C. This energy intensive ""pyrometallurgical"" process is highly polluting and only economically viable at large-scale, resulting in hazardous waste shipment across borders. In developing countries, lead is recycled at very small scale, using crude, open furnaces, which is hazardous to human health and the environment. Globally, 26 million people are at risk of lead poisoning, with diseases leading to the loss of 9 million Disability Adjusted Life Years. The major cause of lead poisoning is unsafe battery recycling.The University of Cambridge has invented a new ""hydrometallurgical"" process that is highly energy efficient, clean, scalable and cost effective. Aurelius Environmental has the exclusive license to exploit this novel technology, ""NUOVOpb"", globally. NUOVOpb reduces the carbon footprint of LAB recycling by up to 89%, eliminates SOx and NOx pollutants, and is economically viable even at small scale (1,000 tonnes/yr). Crucially, it produces lead oxide directly (normally produced through a secondary process), and the unique nano crystalline structure of this lead oxide improves the energy density in new LABs by 30% and provides a 50% longer life. NUOVOpb will transform the growing, global battery recycling industry, which has an expected value of £8 billion in 2024\. The huge market opportunity for NUOVOpb is, however, restricted by the cost and availability of the primary reagent used. This project will develop reagent substitutes to enable us to meet global demand for our technology, contribute to sustainability and growing our business."