Recyclus Group, the battery recycling business 48.25% owned by Technology Minerals PLC (LSE:TM1), has launched an engineering doctorate programme at its first industrial-scale plant.
The first appointment to the programme will be undertaking several projects aimed at improving processes and productivity as well as advancing the understanding of recycled waste and the products recovered, the company said in a statement.
Alex Brandon-Bravo, a Bath University graduate with a first-class degree and a Masters in natural sciences, will start in July, working under the supervision of the University of Warwick.
Recyclus has been working on battery recycling research with the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the university, including developing the UK's capability to recycle Li-ion batteries to 'black mass'.
Robin Brundle, chairman of Technology Minerals, said: “With the global demand for Li-ion batteries increasing, we are committed to providing industrial-scale battery recycling solutions across all sectors which are transitioning to circular economy supply chains.
“Alex's technical knowledge and experience are first-class. He will be working with our technical team alongside our R&D partners at WMG, as we continue to develop our technologies in this crucial area of battery recycling and strive for even greater innovation.”
Earlier this month, Recyclus’s Wolverhampton battery recycling plant received clearance from the Environment Agency to begin full operations, which offer the potential to recycle up to 8,300 tonnes of Li-ion batteries in the first year of operation based on a single operating shift, five days per week.
The company said it will be the first industrial-scale plant in the UK with the capability to recycle Li-ion batteries.