Envirostream Australia – a 90% owned subsidiary of Lithium Australia (LIT) – has filed two international patent applications with the Australia Patent Office relating to its recycling process for lithium-ion batteries and ongoing research and development activities targeting value-adds from the downstream processing of critical battery metals.
Named ‘Process for recovering values from batteries’, the first patent application describes a size-selective process for recovering electrode material from lithium-ion batteries, including as a mixed metal material that comprises both cathode and anode powders.
The second patent application is titled ‘Process for recovering values from process liquors’ and describes processes for the selective recovery of mixed metal sulphates – such as a mixed cobalt-nickel sulphate – from a metal sulphate process liquor following leaching of mixed metal material recovered from lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium Australia, whose 100%-owned subsidiary VSPC recently secured Australian patent for the production of nickel- and cobalt-free battery cathode powders, aims to ensure an ethical supply of energy metals to the battery industry by creating a circular battery economy that enhances both sustainability and resource security.
Managing director Adrian Griffin was the company was ‘acutely aware’ of its environmental footprint and that of the society within which we live and operate.
“We can no longer afford to discard any products to landfill, let alone those that have a high embedded energy footprint, contain critical materials, or – in the case of lithium-ion batteries – both,” he continued.
“We have developed unique processes to deal with battery waste and invite like-minded industry participants to work with us in improving the sustainability of our consumer-based society.”
