Aqua Metals, a Nevada-based listed metal recycler, has announced a breakthrough in its lithium-ion battery recycling technology. The company reports that it has been successful in recovering lithium-ion hydroxide from spent lithium-ion batteries.

The company has developed a “Li AquaRefining” process technology that processes black mass made from any mix of lithium-ion batteries to recover lithium-ion hydroxide. Thus far, technologies developed involve smelting lithium-ion batteries and have not helped in recovering lithium itself. Aqua Metal states that it cleanly recycles used lithium-ion batteries using electrons instead of chemicals or high heat and is thereby capable of recovering lithium. 

Additionally, Aqua Metal is researching the recycling and recovery of other key elements of lithium-ion batteries such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese. The company began testing its lithium-ion recycling technology in 2021 and reports that it is now on track to run a full pilot plant to recover lithium and other battery minerals in 2022. 

Founded in 2014, Aqua Metal focuses on recycling metals with its patented hydrometallurgical AquaRefining technology. The technology is water-based and claims to produce pure lead from metal waste. The company licenses its AquaRefining technology to recyclers across the globe. In 2019, the company’s refinery plant was able to produce 10 tonnes of lead per day.