{
  "id": 14623856,
  "title": "Graphite recycling from batteries, Macerata becomes European pilot hub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/riciclo-della-grafite-dalle-batterie-a-macerata-polo-pilota-europeo",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-15T05:47:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Il Sole 24 Ore",
    "slug": "il-sole-24-ore",
    "url": "https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/riciclo-grafite-batterie-macerata-polo-pilota-europeo-AJM8xujB"
  },
  "original_language": "it",
  "account": "A pilot plant for recycling graphite from lithium battery waste will be operational in Macerata, Italy, in the second half of next year. The project, called Graphirec, is a collaboration between Orim and Sima, and has received approximately €3.2 million in funding from a European call. The plant will use two patents developed with the University of L'Aquila to integrate thermal and hydrometallurgical processes, creating a closed cycle for graphite recycling. The project aims to reduce Europe's reliance on importing critical raw materials, with a goal of covering at least 25% of Europe's needs through recycling by 2030.",
  "summary": "The first pilot plant in Europe for recycling graphite from lithium battery waste will be operational in the second half of next year in Macerata. It will be built by Orim,...",
  "key_points": [
    "Macerata to host Europe's first graphite recycling pilot plant by late 2025",
    "Orim and Sima firms collaborate on Graphirec project with €5M funding",
    "Closed-loop system recovers graphite with 99.3% purity for battery production"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Establishing a domestic source for graphite through this pilot plant moves Italy beyond mechanical processing toward strategic autonomy and reduced dependence on imported critical raw materials.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}