Aqua Metals' Patented Process to Recover Metals from Li-Ion Batteries

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Nevada-headquartered Aqua Metals Inc. announced that it has filed a provisional patent for recovery of high-value metals from recycled lithium-ion batteries. The provisional patent will give the company a period of up to one year to gather data in support of the project, after which it could proceed with formal submission of the patent.

The testing phase, involving proprietary AquaRefining technique, had produced encouraging results. The technique can be used to plate the metals found in lithium-ion batteries.

The company had recently made an investment of $2 million in acquiring 10% ownership stake in LiNiCo Corp.- a Nevada-based company focused on closed-loop lithium-ion battery recycling. The two companies had agreed to make use of best-in-class technologies to boost sustainable recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

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Steve Cotton, president and CEO of Aqua Metals noted that expanding its AquaRefining hydrometallurgical approach to recycling the high-value metals of lithium-ion batteries is a smart, long-term strategy for the company. At the same time, the company continues to remain focused on commercializing its lead recycling business. The first licensing deal is expected in the near future, he added.