Licovolt teams up with PBT on battery recycling

According to Licovolt, its novel chemical process can extract lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese from used battery material at a fraction of today’s costs and with lower emissions. The patented technology is licensed to industry partners and OEMs, with Pure Battery Technologies (PBT) the latest partner. Licovolt was founded by UCD professors Tony Keene and Steven Ferguson, from the university’s School of Chemistry and School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. 

Australian-headquartered PBT refines raw materials such as Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) and recycled battery black mass into high-grade precursor Cathode Active Material (pCAM) for lithium-ion batteries. Its refinery in Hagen, Germany, currently produces about 2,000 tonnes of nickel products annually, with plans underway to expand operations and ramp up to 12,000 tonnes of pCAM per year. PBT will integrate Licovolt’s technology to produce both Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) and Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) CAM across its operations.

“The Licovolt team are excited to be working with PBT, leveraging their operating facility and hard-earned raw material supply and off-take relationships,” said Clint Zahmel, Licovolt executive director.

“Licovolt’s agreement with PBT has the potential to springboard Licovolt’s technology as well as provide a valuable addition to PBT’s facilities. We look forward to working with the team at PBT.”

With EV demand set to rise dramatically in the coming years, circularity of battery materials is essential for a sustainable transition to electrified mobility. According to Licovolt and PBT, the new partnership will strengthen the supply chain for sustainable battery materials, advance the development of clean energy solutions and support global electrification.  

“Licovolt’s technology presents an exciting potential addition to PBT’s flow-sheet and PBT’s existing and expanded facilities,” said PBT CEO, Bjorn Zikarsky.

“PBT and Licovolt have a great team of people and importantly have the ability to rapidly scale Licovolt’s technology given our operating facility in Hagen.”