Critical mineral company ReElement Technologies and supply chain company Electrified Materials have announced a strategic collaboration with battery recycler Blackion for a domestic value chain for end-of-life lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.
The collaboration includes a recycling services agreement between Electrified Materials and Blackion, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ReElement and Blackion.
This partnership is hoped to build a vertically integrated and sustainable supply chain for lithium-ion batteries and mineral recovery in the US.
The three corporations hope to combine their capabilities, as Blackion claims it has a global sourcing network of end-of-life material. Electrified Materials is known for its storage, disassembly, and pre-processing of lithium-ion batteries, and ReElement has a platform to recover and refine battery-grade lithium carbonate from a range of battery chemistries – with a focus on LFP. The company will refine LFP black mass into lithium carbonate as a highlight of the collaboration.
ReElement and Blackion are said to share net revenues from the sale of refined battery materials sourced via Blackion’s network.
Mark Jensen, CEO and chairman, ReElement, said, “This partnership with Blackion is a huge step to bringing real battery recycling solutions in the US to a reality. Historically, the majority of recycled battery material has been shipped back overseas – which ultimately is not supporting American interests in supply chain resilience and independence. Our innovative refining technology allows for battery-grade material to stay here in the US to serve both defence and commercial sectors – as we are able to economically extract and refine lithium back to battery-grade products.”
Image: Blackion
