Ascend Elements, a vertically integrated battery materials company, will begin producing >99% pure, sustainable lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) recovered from used lithium-ion batteries at its facility in Covington, Georgia.
Recycled lithium carbonate recovered from used lithium-ion batteries.
In 2025. The company plans to produce up to 3,000 metric tons of sustainable, domestic Li2CO3 annually. Currently, recycled Li2CO3 is not produced commercially anywhere in the United States. The only other domestic source of Li2CO3 is from a mining operation in Nevada.
Li2CO3 makes advanced batteries for electric vehicles, aircraft, energy storage, and more. According to Gratz, Ascend Elements’ innovative lithium recovery process produces remarkably low carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional mining and brine extraction methods.
Ascend Elements’ innovative lithium extraction process produces just 2.27 kg of CO2 emissions per 1 kg of Li2CO3 . By comparison, spodumene mining produces approximately 16.7 kg of CO2 emissions per 1 kg of Li2CO3 , and Chilean brine extraction produces approximately 3.6 kg of CO2 emissions per 1 kg of Li2CO3.
These preliminary comparisons are from a life cycle assessment (LCA) not yet critically reviewed.
The Ascend Elements facility in Covington is one of North America’s largest lithium-ion battery recycling facilities. In operation since August 2022, the plant has the capacity to recycle up to 30,000 metric tons of lithium-ion battery materials per year or approximately 70,000 EV battery packs annually.
Beyond battery recycling, Ascend also produces sustainable lithium-ion battery materials, including Li2CO3, NMC pCAM and NMC CAM made from recycled battery materials.
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Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News