BASF Catalysts offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products including advanced battery materials. BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. We believe mobility’s future lies in more than just products. So where others come to a full stop, we’re just getting started—by leveraging the full power of BASF to continually advance our comprehensive package of sustainable solutions that enable us to travel further, as well as above and beyond. A leading supplier of high performance cathode active materials (CAM) for electrified vehicles to battery producers and automotive OEMs around the world. Protecting the air we breathe from harmful emissions through innovation. BASF leverages unsurpassed expertise in the development of emission control technologies for a wide range of market applications. BASF is committed to advancing and promoting environmentally-sound technologies to achieve a sustainable future in aviation. Offering 50 years of experience developing intelligent solutions for air quality over a wide range of applications — enabling clean air for a healthier, more sustainable future. As the global leader in chemical catalysts, BASF develops cutting-edge catalyst chemistry with our customers’ needs in mind. We want to contribute to a world that provides a viable future with enhanced quality of life for everyone. We do so by creating chemistry for our customers and society and by making the best use of available resources. BASF offers the widest portfolio of adsorbent technologies for a broad spectrum of applications in industries such as refining, petrochemical, chemical, and gas processing. Syngas, produced from natural gas or coal, is a key intermediate in the emerging technologies for gas-to-liquids (GTL), methanol-to-olefins, coal-to-liquids and fuel cells. At BASF, our Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst and additive offerings together with our expert technical services build the right solution to create value within any unit’s constraints. Paving the way toward a brighter, more secure future. Manufacturing products for sustainable solutions, reducing emissions from our processes, and using non-fossil fueled energy sources – all of these efforts help lead BASF on a continuing journey of sustainability. BASF Natural Gas experts have a diverse portfolio of products to custom design a solution and help you meet your Natural Gas treatment needs. BASF has been serving the natural gas treatment market for over 60 years. Innovative, step-change technology with dual-purpose performance: removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water to cryogenic specifications in a single unit. With more than 150 years of experience in metal sourcing, trading, and hedging, we’ve built tangible results for our industrial customers. With more than 100 years of experience in recycling materials, BASF’s end-to-end recycling program is known and trusted around the globe. As a leader in precious-metal thermocouples for many years, BASF recently applied its technological expertise to optical-based temperature measurement. Developing and producing pharmaceutical ingredients for more than 75 years, enabling us to provide the solutions you need to meet today's and tomorrow's challenges for your pharmaceutical business. Find the latest news and media information for BASF’s Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, USA, the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. Explore this collection of resources to learn more about our innovative research and Catalyst solutions.
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Recycling of production waste: BASF and WHW Recycling make battery cell production more sustainable

  • Processing of cathode and anode waste from battery cell production provides mostly high-purity raw materials
  • Start-up of two new separation plants at WHW Recycling in Baudenbach planned for end of the year
  • BASF expands its recycling service offering by using WHW Recycling to further contribute to circular value chains

Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Baudenbach, Germany – BASF, a global player in battery materials and recycling and WHW Recycling GmbH (WHW Recycling) have entered an agreement on the processing of cathode and anode waste to make battery cell production in Europe more sustainable. WHW Recycling, a joint venture between Walch Holding and Štefan Hanigovský, owner of the Slovakian waste management company Fecupral, is a specialist in the recycling of electrode foils. Through the processing of cathode and anode foil waste from battery cell production for electric vehicles, valuable raw materials can be recovered and fed into various value chains. With the separation of materials, WHW Recycling complements BASF’s processes of collecting production waste and feeding the recovered raw materials into various value chains for further processing, thus expanding BASF’s recycling service offering for its customers.

From the end of the year, cathode and anode foil waste from battery cell production will be processed and separated into its components in WHW Recycling’s two new separation plants in Baudenbach, Germany. Most of the recyclable materials can be recovered up to a highly pure form due to an innovative process patented exclusively by WHW Recycling. Cathode foils consist of a thin aluminum foil coated with cathode active material. The aluminum material used in the cathode foils can be separated highly efficiently from the cathode active material in the cathode separation plant and reused as a metal fraction. After separation, BASF will refine the resulting impure cathode active material and the resulting battery grade minerals can be re-used as a raw materials for cathode active material production. Copper processed in the anode foil as a carrier material and graphite can be used as recovered raw materials after processing in the anode separation plant.

"A holistic approach to battery recycling is an important step towards enabling a true circular economy for the battery industry in Europe and conserving scarce resources,” says Christine Grosse Lembeck, Vice President Business Management Battery Recycling at BASF Battery Materials. “Working hand in hand in this rapidly growing market can have a huge impact. I am therefore thrilled that we have found such a competent recycling partner with WHW Recycling that optimally complements our own recycling solutions – a perfect match!"

Kevin Walch, one of the two Managing Directors of WHW Recycling, adds: "Over 15 years ago, we pioneered the treatment of production waste from the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries with Lars Walch GmbH & Co. KG. We are very motivated and honored that our very sophisticated process with an above-average recycling rate and quality is now being used on an even larger scale in collaboration with BASF."

Štefan Hanigovský, joint venture partner of WHW Recycling adds: "In collaboration with BASF, we continue our proven recycling processes. Our goal is to jointly be an important part of the battery recycling infrastructure and become a leader in the development of battery recycling technologies. We are happy to be part of this collaboration, which enables an important step in battery recycling in Europe."

BASF Media Contact
Sarah Katharina Müller
Global Media Relations Manager
sarah-katharina.mueller@basf.com
+49 173 3099 741

WHW Recycling Media Contacts
Matthias Walch
Responsible for R&D
matthias.walch@walch-recycling.de
+49 9164 99 81 0

Sarah Katharina Mueller

BASF Media Relations (Europe)

+49 173 3099 741

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2024 06 WHW Recycling BASF

German:
BASF und die WHW Recycling GmbH haben eine Vereinbarung über die Aufbereitung von Kathoden- und Anodenabfällen geschlossen, um die Batteriezellherstellung in Europa nachhaltiger zu gestalten.
Von links hinten: Lukas Walch (WHW Recycling), Matthias Walch (WHW Recycling), Kevin Walch (WHW Recycling), Štefan Hanigovský (WHW Recycling), Holger Kuhlmann (BASF); von links vorne: Julian Prölß (BASF), Christine Große Lembeck (BASF), Lars Walch (Lars Walch GmbH & Co. KG)




English:
BASF and WHW Recycling GmbH have entered an agreement on the processing of cathode and anode waste to make battery cell production in Europe more sustainable.
From the back left: Lukas Walch (WHW Recycling), Matthias Walch (WHW Recycling), Kevin Walch (WHW Recycling), Štefan Hanigovský (WHW Recycling), Holger Kuhlmann (BASF); from the front left: Julian Proelss (BASF), Christine Grosse Lembeck (BASF), Lars Walch (Lars Walch GmbH & Co. KG)

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