Korean cathode manufacturer tests battery cell made with RecycLiCo cathode precursor

Canadian company RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. says its recycled precursor cathode active material has been used by a Korean cathode manufacturer to create battery cells that demonstrate the same level of performance as those made with commercial precursor material. Battery cell performance was validated using industry-standard metrics and benchmarked against multiple other recycled precursor and commercial precursor products, the company adds.

RecycLiCo says the Korean cathode manufacturer reported that the battery cell using RecycLiCo’s “recycled-upcycled” NMC811 (nickel manganese cobalt oxide) precursor outperformed other recycled cathode precursor materials and performed at the level of commercial NMC811 precursor material. RecycLiCo’s commercial battery-quality precursor was produced directly from battery production scrap and black mass samples using the firm’s RecycLiCo process.

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That process involves separation and leaching operations that yield a pregnant leach solution (PLS) that contains the cathode metals cobalt, lithium, nickel and manganese. Prepared PLS is “integrated” with a specialized cathode precursor precipitation reactor that uses modern cathode manufacturing technology to produce cathode precursor with specific chemical composition, purity, particle shape, particle size and uniformity, according to the company.

“These results not only validate our technological lead but also showcase the potential of our strategic business model that enables potential cathode and battery manufacturer partners to reintegrate recycled battery-ready materials while gaining economic and environmental benefits,” says Zarko Meseldzija, CEO and director of RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. “We are excited to explore potential partnership opportunities and further advance technical due diligence with the Korean manufacturer as we push the boundaries of sustainability and innovation in the battery materials industry.”