This Company Is Looking to Sustainably Recycle Lots of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Help Protect the World From the Hazards They Can Present

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The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

The lithium-ion battery market has been soaring for some years now. Thanks to the widespread adoption of these batteries because of their distinct advantages and improvements over other forms of battery technology, they have become and remained a key input in numerous technological products.

Lithium-ion batteries power many technologies that support and shape human life today — from consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops, medical devices, and household electronics to electric vehicles (EVs). 

They have become the preferred choice for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) — like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX: 005930), and Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) — because of their high energy density, lightweight design, longevity, self-discharge, and low maintenance. More companies are reportedly also adopting them, further increasing their demand. 

Increasing Demand for Lithium-Ion Batteries?

Because of rising demand, the global lithium-ion battery market size is projected to grow from $41.1 billion in 2021 to $116.6 billion by 2030; it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2021 to 2030. Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries are expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.

As more electric vehicles continue to roll off assembly lines of giants like Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), the appetite for lithium batteries might continue to grow. The growth of the EV market and demand for these batteries presents numerous benefits for human life and the environment — they could lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions and pollution.

The Other Effects of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Some organizations are reporting that effective recycling offers the world the best chance to prevent adverse environmental effects from mining and possible contamination. But low recycling rates for e-waste are a global problem that requires a global solution.

One company — American Manganese Inc. AMY — reports to have developed an effective lithium-ion battery recycling solution that makes it possible to re-introduce the critical materials back into the supply chain. The company wants its recycling technology to reduce the environmental and humanitarian impact of these batteries.

American Manganese is a critical minerals company focused on upcycling lithium-ion battery waste into high-value battery cathode materials using its closed-loop RecycLiCo™ Patented Process.

The company is offering what it says is the missing link in sustainable battery recycling. Current lithium-ion battery recycling is environmentally unfriendly, needs high energy and produces toxic waste by-products producing medium or low recovery of cobalt and little to no recovery of remaining metals.

Recycling and Using Lithium-Ion Batteries Forever?

American Manganese reported that its patented green technology recycles over 99% of lithium-ion battery cathode metals. The process is environmentally friendly, requires low energy, produces no toxic by-product, and recovers over 99% of the valuable battery metals cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and aluminum for direct integration into the re-manufacturing of new lithium-ion batteries.

American Manganese’s RecycLiCo Technology

• Circular recycling process: Consumer battery waste sourced from urban areas and processed for reuse in lithium-ion batteries versus mining, processing, and refining of raw materials in remote and politically unstable regions around the globe
• Economically robust: Low-cost recovery process with minimal processing steps and known resource content in feedstock versus the high cost of exploration, drilling, and resource estimation required prior to the development of a mine
• Environmentally friendly: Closed-loop hydrometallurgical system with no greenhouse gas emissions, no landfill waste, low energy consumption, and recycling of process water and reagents while also reducing reliance on mining raw materials
• Government support: Global legislation highly supportive of recycling and mineral recovery from urban waste versus ever-increasing mining permit restrictions and stricter environmental regulatory standards

Circular Supply-Chain Business Opportunities

American Manganese’s RecycLiCo licensing model reportedly adds value to the supply chain of batteries by:

• Closing the loop through integration of specialized RecycLiCo technology alongside existing battery footprint
• Reducing transportation-associated costs and emissions with an in-house recycling plant
• Reducing reliance on mined materials and gaining control over the battery supply chain
• Providing an environmentally friendly and circular supply of critical battery materials
• Recovering maximum value from the producer’s own battery supply
• Adhering to increasing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and recovery rate legislation

American Manganese aims to effectively close the lithium battery lifecycle loop by licensing or joint-venturing its RecycLiCo™ process alongside gigafactories and EV manufacturers. Its patented recycling process aims to produce materials as high-quality cathode precursors and lithium compounds, which could then be directly integrated into the remanufacturing of battery cathodes using minimal processing steps.

For more information about the company and its technology, you can visit its website here.

The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.