Aqua Metals signs MOU with MOBY Robotics to refine critical minerals

Aqua Metals Inc., a Reno, Nevada-based battery recycler, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MOBY Robotics Inc., a Miami-based critical minerals recovery company, to advance early leadership in sustainable refining of deep-sea polymetallic nodules. 

The collaborative framework intends to utilize Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining process to refine nodules containing nickel, cobalt, manganese and rare earths to advance domestic solutions for critical mineral independence. 

According to Aqua Metals, the company will collaborate with MOBY Robotics to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of producing battery-grade materials from polymetallic deep-sea nodules. Aqua Metals plans to begin bench-scale testing later this year to adapt its process. 

The companies will also evaluate the potential to extract and refine rare earth elements (REEs) from the nodules. Aqua Metals says integrating REE recovery into the AquaRefining platform would expand the company's role in building the domestic supply chain for batteries, magnets and advanced manufacturing while reducing reliance on overseas processing. 

This marks Aqua Metals’ second MOU focused on deep-sea minerals, as the company aims to extend its AquaRefining process beyond lithium-ion battery recycling to new domestic sources of critical minerals. 

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“Deep-sea nodules represent a significant new opportunity to strengthen the U.S. supply of critical minerals,” Aqua Metals President and CEO Steve Cotton says. “The collaboration underscores Aqua Metals’ leadership in sustainable refining and its role in building a resilient, independent U.S. supply chain for critical minerals.” 

Polymetallic nodules are rock-like deposits found on the ocean floor that contain metals used in electric vehicles, grid-scale batteries, data centers and clean energy technologies. Aqua Metals says as international demand for nickel, cobalt and manganese surges, it’s pioneering clean, domestic refining solutions that scale efficiently and compete globally. 

“Aqua Metals has demonstrated a proven ability to cost-effectively extract battery-grade metals with near-zero waste,” MOBY Robotics CEO and co-founder Alex Petersen says. “We’re excited to collaborate on adapting their process to the unique challenges and opportunities of deep-sea nodules using our environmentally friendly, cost-effective and autonomous robotic technologies.” 

Aqua Metals says it views deep-sea nodules as an additional feedstock for its AquaRefining process, complementing lithium-ion recycling and supporting a more resilient U.S. critical-minerals supply chain. According to the company, these initiatives are expected to strengthen its position in the growing critical minerals market.