Ecopro HN has embarked on developing water treatment technology that can process saline wastewater (high-concentration saline treatment water) generated during battery material manufacturing at a low expense.
Recently, Ecopro HN signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chungbuk National University at the Ecopro headquarters in Ochang, agreeing to jointly develop next-generation water treatment technology that decomposes saline wastewater containing sodium sulfate, the company said on the 15th.
The next-generation water treatment system being developed will use a proprietary catalyst that enhances electrolysis efficiency instead of expensive metallic oxide electrodes typically used for water decomposition, thereby activating electro-dialysis and reducing electricity usage by about half compared to existing methods. The conventional electrolysis method had the drawback of high energy expense, including electricity consumption.
An official from Ecopro HN noted, "By developing next-generation water treatment technology that uses less electricity, we will not only meet the rising environmental standards and stakeholder demands but also contribute to the ongoing focus on carbon neutrality."
Ecopro HN is developing a water treatment system that purifies wastewater under high pressure to increase the efficiency of precious metal recovery and is also preparing to file a patent. Once the development of next-generation water treatment technology and the patent application are completed, the company expects to generate about 50 billion won in annual revenue from its water treatment solution business.