American Manganese (AM) has reported reaching a “great milestone” in its work towards “a complete lithium-ion battery recycling process” by beginning operation of its five stage pilot plant operation in Canada.
AM’s processing partner Kemetco Research has started processing a select sample of cathode scrap material at AM’s lithium-ion recycling pilot plant in British Columbia.
The cathode scrap material is being processed through stages 1 and 2 of the pilot plant, which will see the sample undergo pre-treatment and then leaching.
On full operation, the pilot plant will operate a five-stage process, with the final three stages unfolding thus: purification, followed by recovery of base materials such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, followed by lithium recovery and water recycle.
AM’s CEO and President Larry Reaugh said that the company is “also anticipating an official US parent number for its recently approved patent application.”
‘The commencement of the pilot plant operations marks a significant step in AM’s quest to prove its patent-approved lithium-ion battery recycling technology”, added Norman Chow, President of Kemetco.
The importance of establishing wide-spread lithium-ion battery recycling— and Europe’s continued failure to do so— has been highlighted in the latest issue of BEST magazine.
