Neometals Ltd has announced its subsidiary ACN Co has received a patent from the Australian Patent Office for its lithium-ion battery recycling process (LiB Recycling Technology).
The Australian patent (Australian Patent No.2019400942) is the first to be granted of the seventeen national patent applications filed by ACN Co in key jurisdictions throughout the world for LiB Recycling Technology.
The LiB Recycling Technology, which is 50% owned by Neometals’ Primobius joint venture partner SMS group, recovers materials from LiB production scrap and end-of-life cells that would otherwise be disposed of in landfill. The two-stage process converts nickel, cobalt, lithium, and manganese battery materials (as well as metals and plastics) into saleable products that can be reused in the LiB supply chain. LiB Recycling Technology prioritises optimal safety, environmental sustainability, and product recovery to promote the circular economy and decarbonisation.
The technology comprises two stages:
- Spoke – The process involves receiving, sorting, discharging, disassembling, shredding, and physically separating all components of LiBs, including metal casings, electrode foils, plastics, and active battery materials; and
- Hub – The process involves leaching, purification, precipitation, solvent extraction, and crystallisation of active materials for LiB precursor production through hydrometallurgical refining.
The Australian patent primarily focuses on the Hub stage of LiB Recycling Technology.
Neometals initiated the LiB Recycling Technology patent prosecution by filing an Australian provisional application in late 2018, followed by a Patent Cooperation Treaty application and seventeen national applications. The Australian patent covers the Hub component of LiB Recycling Technology until late 2039.
According to Neometals, this is an essential achievement for Primobius as it pursues its recycling plant supply and technology licencing strategy. IP Australia extensively analysed the patent claims against global ‘novelty,’ ‘inventiveness,’ and ‘industrial applicability’ metrics, and Primobius may now better assert its commercial rights.
“We are pleased to receive the first granted patent for our battery recycling process from the Australian Patent Office. This cements our competitive advantage as a leading provider of recycling solutions and allows Primobius to accelerate its recycling plant supply and licensing business model. The validation also provides encouragement that our portfolio of applications in other jurisdictions will similarly be granted,” Neometals Managing Director Chris Reed said.
