US lithium-ion battery recycling firm Aqua Metals has produced cathode active material (CAM) from domestically sourced, recycled nickel.

Aqua Metals recovered high-purity nickel from spent lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap using its AquaRefining process. The company refined the recycled nickel into battery-grade nickel nitrate. One of its manufacturing partners then used a low-carbon, waste-reducing process to convert the nickel nitrate material into battery-grade CAM while eliminating sodium sulfate production.

A Tier 1 lithium battery manufacturer is currently evaluating the CAM. Initial testing has shown that the recycled nickel CAM meets industry-standard chemical and electrochemical specifications set by the battery manufacturer, ensuring compatibility with its existing cell production processes.

“This milestone confirms that Aqua Metals’ technology enables the reclamation and reuse of critical minerals entirely within the United States, supporting both energy security and the clean energy economy,” said Steve Cotton, President and CEO of Aqua Metals. “We have demonstrated that a circular supply chain for battery materials is commercially viable today.”

Source: Aqua Metals