As electric vehicle manufacturers scramble to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals for batteries, recycling used Li-ion batteries offers a cleaner, more sustainable source. Pioneers in the field of lithium-ion battery recycling, Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS), has reached a major milestone in the quest to secure a reliable, renewable source of minerals with the successful completion of its Li AquaRefining™ recycling pilot. This groundbreaking achievement propels Aqua Metals closer to round-the-clock operations, enabling the production of high-purity, market-ready quantities of sustainably recycled battery materials. By harnessing their patented AquaRefining technology, Aqua Metals has emerged as the first fully-operational, sustainably-powered lithium battery recycler, revolutionizing the industry by replacing environmentally harmful methods with advanced electro-hydrometallurgy.
The recently completed pilot facility commissioning validates Aqua Metals’ ability to recover valuable metals such as cobalt and manganese dioxide, alongside high-purity lithium hydroxide, nickel, and copper, from spent lithium batteries. AquaRefining’s innovative approach, which utilizes electricity to separate critical metals from batteries, represents a major leap forward in sustainable lithium battery recycling and positions Aqua Metals as a key player in the global pursuit of eco-friendly battery recycling solutions.
Aqua Metals completed the pilot phase, from design to operations, in an impressive span of approximately eight months. With the transition to 24-hour operations, the company is now expanding the pilot facility’s capacity to process 75 tons per annum (tpa) of black mass input. Building on this success, Aqua Metals is concurrently developing and commissioning its first commercial-scale facility. The initial phase of this recycling campus is designed to process 3,000 tpa of black mass, ensuring a sustainable supply and finalizing offtake agreements for the recycled materials.
Aqua Metals plans to capitalize on its achievements by selling the high-purity and battery-grade materials produced during the pilot phase to metals buyers. The company will distribute high-purity production samples to existing and potential customers in the battery and cathode manufacturing industry, advancing ongoing partnerships and discussions with long-term off-takers.
Steve Cotton, President & CEO of Aqua Metals said, “We have secured more than 3,000 tons of black mass to fuel our operations, providing a sufficient supply to reach commercial scale in 2024. Aqua Metals aims to leverage its first-mover advantage to drive US leadership in sustainable battery recycling and establish a robust domestic supply chain for the critical minerals that power an electrified future cleanly.”
line with their commitment to sustainability, Aqua Metals earlier unveiled plans for a five-acre clean metals recycling campus located in the Tahoe-Reno area of Nevada. This ambitious project, with a future total capacity exceeding 10,000 tpa, reflects Aqua Metals’ dedication to sustainable practices and the circular economy. The company has already commenced the redevelopment of an existing building on-site, which will become the first commercial-scale Li AquaRefinery.
Compared to pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical techniques, Aqua Metals’ regenerative electro-hydrometallurgical recycling method offers a significant improvement. By dramatically reducing emissions, improving recovery rates, and minimizing landfill waste, the AquaRefining process sets a new standard in lithium battery recycling. Additionally, the process yields higher purity metals crucial for the thriving US battery manufacturing industry, solidifying Aqua Metals’ role in leading the charge towards a more sustainable future.
