American Manganese Inc., Surrey, Canada, and its independent R&D contractor Kemetco Research Inc., Richmond, Canada, report that the pregnant leach solution (PLS) produced during the leaching stages of NMC (lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide) cathode waste, using AMY’s patented lithium-ion battery cathode recycling process (RecycLiCo™), has been prepared for cathode precursor production testing.
The NMC testing follows the earlier production of cathode precursor material from recycled NCA (lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum oxide) cathode waste, as reported in the Company’s March 31, 2021 press release. AMY’s goal is to achieve the technical targets set by traditional lithium-ion battery cathode precursor manufacturers and to demonstrate the potential to recycle NMC or NCA cathode waste into high-value cathode precursor products for direct integration in the re-manufacturing of new lithium-ion batteries.
“The cathode precursor is a high-value product near the end of the lithium-ion battery supply chain and the NMC and NCA cathodes are two of the most popular electric vehicle battery chemistries manufactured and used today,” said Larry Reaugh, President and CEO of American Manganese. “Therefore, with RecycLiCo, our strategy is to license or jointly develop our environmentally safe, efficient, and low-cost process alongside lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle partners that share our vision of a circular economy.”
American Manganese is also pleased to report that equipment planning and sourcing for the RecycLiCo™ demonstration plant is underway. The contract for the $2.7 million scale-up project was awarded to Kemetco on March 12, 2021, and will have a planned cathode waste processing capacity of 500 kg/day. The project will support third-party evaluation, detailed economic analysis, and provide a tool for commercialization.
About Kemetco Research Inc.
Kemetco Research is a private sector integrated science, technology and innovation company. Their Contract Sciences operation provides laboratory analysis and testing, field work, bench scale studies, pilot plant investigations, consulting services, applied research and development for both industry and government. Their clients range from start-up companies developing new technologies through to large multinational corporations with proven processes.
Kemetco provides scientific expertise in the fields of Specialty Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Process and Extractive Metallurgy.
About American Manganese Inc.
American Manganese Inc. is a critical metals company focused on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries with the RecycLiCo™ Patented Process. The process provides high extraction of cathode metals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and aluminum at high purity, with minimal processing steps. American Manganese Inc. aims to commercialize its breakthrough RecycLiCo™ Patented Process and become an industry leader in recycling cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries.