What’s Happening: Electra Battery Materials Corporation has successfully recovered lithium, a critical mineral needed for the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain, in its black mass recycling trial at its refinery north of Toronto. The company has validated its proprietary hydrometallurgical process and efforts in commissioning its larger refinery complex by producing a technical-grade lithium carbonate product in a plant-scale setting.
Why It Matters: The lithium recovery from black mass represents a game changer for Electra and the North American EV supply chain. Recycling lithium through hydrometallurgy reduces the carbon footprint of manufacturing electric vehicles and provides another high-value product that can be sold, strengthening the economics of the battery recycling strategy. Additionally, recycling black mass will become a key feature of the EV battery supply chain as the demand for critical minerals increases and the supply deficit of metals like nickel and cobalt looms.
Key Points:
- Electra Battery Materials has successfully recovered lithium from black mass in its recycling trial at its refinery north of Toronto.
- The recovery of lithium from black mass through hydrometallurgy reduces the carbon footprint of manufacturing electric vehicles and strengthens the economics of the battery recycling strategy.
- Recycling black mass will become a key feature of the EV battery supply chain as the demand for critical minerals increases and the supply deficit of metals like nickel and cobalt looms.
- The company has validated its proprietary hydrometallurgical process and efforts in commissioning its larger refinery complex by producing a technical-grade lithium carbonate product in a plant-scale setting.
- All of Electra’s recovered material will be sold to third-party companies for additional processing and re-use in several applications.
Bottom Line: Electra Battery Materials’ successful lithium recovery from black mass through its proprietary hydrometallurgical process represents a significant milestone for the North American EV supply chain. The company’s efforts to commission its larger refinery complex and produce a technical-grade lithium carbonate product in a plant-scale setting validate its recycling strategy and strengthen the economics of its battery recycling efforts. Recycling black mass will become increasingly important as the demand for critical minerals grows and the supply deficit of metals like nickel and cobalt looms.
