Battery recycler Aqua Metals of Nevada in the US claimed its AquaRefining technology resulted in a 95% reduction in its recycling carbon footprint over other lithium-ion battery recycling methods.
In an update briefing, it said it had conducted an environmental comparison using competitor data. This came from EverBatt, a closed-loop battery recycling cost and environmental impacts model from Argonne National Laboratory in the US.
It said the initial results indicate that AquaRefining has a cleaner approach to LiB recycling, producing far less CO2 waste streams than the two evaluated primary processes on the market: pyro-based (smelting) and other hydro recycling methods in development.
AquaRefining is a room temperature, water-based process.
Aqua Metals expects to be able to recover all critical minerals from spent li-ion batteries and return them into the battery supply chain within the US.
It said it has secured black mass for operations in 2023. Its pilot plant opened in November.
The Biden administration is aiming to boost domestic battery production and recycling. In October, it announced the American Battery Materials Initiative. The aim is to secure a reliable and sustainable supply of the critical minerals needed for battery manufacturing. See its briefing paper.
Image: Comparative environmental figures