UK mineral recovery company Watercycle Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German battery recycling company Cylib GmbH to collaborate on graphite and lithium recovery from Cylib’s battery recycling operations.
The agreement establishes a strategic material supply and technology integration framework focused on refining graphite materials and treating lithium-bearing process water generated through Cylib’s recycling technology. The companies said they would evaluate opportunities to integrate their respective technologies to maximise value recovery and support Europe’s circular battery materials supply chain.
Under the terms of the MoU, Watercycle will assess the purchase of graphite material from Cylib’s Aachen demonstration facility starting in 2026. Volumes could increase from pilot-scale quantities to commercial-scale supply from cylib’s first commercial recycling plant, with further expansion possible as additional production capacity comes online.
Watercycle to apply its Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation technology
The partnership will also examine the treatment and upgrading of lithium-bearing process water streams from battery recycling operations. Watercycle plans to apply its modular Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC) technology to improve lithium recovery rates while also generating clean water as a co-product.
Dr Sebastian Leaper, co-founder of Watercycle Technologies, said: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Cylib as we explore opportunities for strategic collaboration in the battery recycling sector. By combining Cylib’s advanced recycling capabilities with our modular mineral recovery technology, we can create a compelling circular model for recovering valuable minerals from end-of-life batteries. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to build resilient, sustainable and economically viable supply chains for critical battery materials in Europe.”
Dr Gideon Schwich, co-CEO and co-founder at Cylib, said: “Integrating innovative mineral recovery technologies with battery recycling is key to maximising resource efficiency. Our collaboration with Watercycle enables us to explore new ways to recover and refine graphite and lithium-bearing streams, supporting the development of a more circular and competitive European battery ecosystem.”
The companies said the partnership is intended to demonstrate how integrated recycling and mineral recovery technologies can increase the value extracted from battery waste streams while supporting Europe’s wider energy transition and battery supply chain ambitions.
