Aqua Metals Receives U.S. Patent for Lithium Battery Recycling Technology

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According to a press release from Aqua Metals, the company has received a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 17/584,975, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This patent is a significant step in enhancing Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining™ technology portfolio, which focuses on sustainable lithium battery recycling.

The patent application, filed in January 2022, reflects the culmination of years of research and development, transforming Aqua Metals’ novel hydrometallurgical process into a commercially viable solution. The technology enables the efficient recovery of critical materials from used lithium-ion batteries, including high-purity nickel, cobalt, and battery-grade lithium carbonate. According to Aqua Metals, this method is environmentally superior to traditional recycling processes, offering cost savings of approximately $1,100 per metric ton of black mass input.

“This allowance represents a major milestone in our strategy to scale AquaRefining™ through both owned recycling campuses and global partnerships,” said Steve Cotton, President and CEO of Aqua Metals. “It strengthens our IP foundation and positions us to pursue licensing and joint venture opportunities with partners who share our vision of building a clean, secure, and domestic battery materials supply chain. We look forward to sharing more on these partnerships soon.”

The company also revealed its ongoing efforts to secure additional patents, including one for a cost-efficient process to produce lithium battery precursor materials. Aqua Metals is reportedly in discussions with multiple potential licensees and joint venture partners around the world to leverage its intellectual property in the development of a sustainable lithium battery supply chain.

Source: Aqua Metals