ForumIAS LATEST
- Interview Guidance initiative by ForumIAS – UPSC CSE 2026 Click Here to know more →
- FRC 2027: SFG Residential program | accepting application for Tranche-2 Click Here to know more →
- CSAT Classes for Prelims 2027 by Rishi Bhargav sir starts 16 Nov. at 5 PM Click Here to know more →
News: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) prohibited the export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass through Notification.
About Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass
- Black Mass is a dark, powder-like material recovered during the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing waste.
- It is obtained by discharging, dismantling, shredding and mechanically separating the battery components.
- Composition:
- Cathode Materials: It contains materials from the battery’s cathode, including lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, depending on the battery chemistry.
- Anode Materials: It contains graphite, which is mainly obtained from the battery’s anode.
- Other Substances: It may also contain small amounts of copper, aluminium, iron, carbon additives, binders and electrolyte residues.
- Key Features:
- Weight Contribution: Black Mass accounts for approximately 40–50% of an electric vehicle battery’s total weight.
- Critical Mineral Content: It contains recoverable lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese, depending on the battery chemistry.
- Economic Value: Its commercial value depends on metal content, recovery efficiency, material purity and market prices.
- Intermediate Material: Black Mass is not a finished battery-grade product and requires further processing to recover usable materials for manufacturing.
