REsPECT_e-ASIA

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The REsPECT (Closed-loop Recycle Process of Spent Primary and Secondary Batteries and the Reutilization for the Environmental Applications & Circular Economy) project is a multinational collaboration between Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia. It aims to develop sustainable closed-loop recycling methods for extracting valuable metals from spent primary (alkaline, Zn-C) and secondary (Li-ion) batteries, and reutilizing these materials in environmental and circular economy applications. The project brings together expertise in hydrometallurgy, lithium recovery, and advanced battery materials.

In Numbers

Members

Total 20 including all partners

THB

4.5M

Funding

Total 12.5M THB including

all the partners

Publication

Webinar hosted

Project Background

The REsPECT project brings together multidisciplinary expertise from Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia to address the growing challenges of battery waste and critical material scarcity. With rising global demand for batteries in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems, the project focuses on developing sustainable, closed-loop recycling processes to recover and reuse valuable metals from spent batteries.

Objectives

To develop efficient recycling technologies for recovering Zn, Mn, and C from alkaline and Zn-C batteries.

To recover Li, Co, Ni, Mn, and C from spent Li-ion batteries using environmentally friendly processes.

To reutilize the recovered materials for high-value applications, including:

Rechargeable Zn-ion
High-performance Li-ion batteries
Na-ion batteries
Photocatalysts

Major Achievements

THAILAND

Thailand team (12 researchers in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering):

Developed a hydrometallurgical process with 50–70% recovery efficiency for alkaline and Zn-C batteries at pilot scale.
Currently working on producing high-purity Zn films, MnO₂, and MnO₂/C nanocomposites for applications in Zn-ion and Li-ion batteries, and photocatalysis.

INDONESIA

Indonesia team (5 researchers):

Since 2013, developed high-nickel-free LNMA and LTO cathodes with biomass-based carbon coatings.
Proposed LNMA synthesis from recycled and natural materials for fast-charging LIBs.
Developed Sodium Ferro Mangan Oxide (NFMO) for Na-ion battery applications.

JAPAN

Japan team (led by Watanabe):

Pioneered soft solution and ammonothermal methods for lithium recovery.
Synthesized LiCoO₂ and visible-light photocatalysts.
Supported by Okazaki’s lithium separation expertise and Murakushi’s solid-state material analysis.