Goudsmit develops magnetic separator for lithium battery powder

Goudsmit Magnetics of  Waalre, the Netherlands has recently produced a rotating magnetic separator intended for the metal-free processing of lithium-ion powder intended for batteries. The quality of cathode powders such as nickel, cadmium and lithium must be optimal to guarantee the operation of a battery. Any metal contamination present in the powder reduces the quality of the material mix and leads to a battery's short life. The automatic cleaning rotating magnetic separator filters metal particles as small as 30 µm from the poorly flowing lithium powder. Lithium is extracted from salt lakes such as the Salar de Atacama in Chile, where there are huge reserves of brine containing lithium. Some large producers process this lithium into a powder that serves as a raw material for batteries used in electric cars, laptops and mobile phones, among other things. Read more...