Aqua Metals, Inc., a sustainable lithium battery recycling technology developer, announced operational milestones achieved at its pilot facility, showcasing the scalability of its proprietary Li AquaRefining process.
These advancements demonstrate the company’s potential to meet the critical demand for sustainably recycled materials in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Key accomplishments include:
- High recovery rates: Aqua Metals achieved over 99% recovery of lithium, cobalt, and nickel from black mass using its proprietary process, which relies on 100% recycled solvent. This method reduces waste and lowers recycling costs.
- Battery-grade lithium carbonate: The pilot facility produced over 600 pounds of battery-grade lithium carbonate in December.
- Nickel and cobalt production: The facility recovered nickel at 96.5%+ purity and cobalt at 99%+ purity levels, materials critical for EVs. The company has designed the Sierra ARC to achieve consistent battery-grade metal production.
- Enhanced process controls: Aqua Metals also demonstrated advanced controls that improved throughput and efficiency, setting the stage for scalability at the commercial level.
- Continuous operations: It successfully operated the pilot facility around the clock for three weeks, achieving over 90% uptime.
As demand for EVs continues to grow, Aqua Metals is positioned to play a vital role in delivering domestically recycled critical minerals to support the clean energy transition.
Additionally, Aqua Metals secured a $1.5 million bridge loan to maintain operational momentum while finalizing long-term financing for the buildout of its commercial Sierra ARC facility. Over 50% of the loan was backed by management and board members, underscoring their confidence in the company’s future.
The company anticipates resolving long-term financing plans in Q1 2025 to scale its operations and expand sustainable battery recycling capacity in the US. More updates on commercial partnerships and financing are expected in early 2025.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News