Black mass contains high-value elements, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, and graphite, that once recovered, can be recycled to produce new lithium-ion batteries. According to data from McKinsey & Company, available battery material for recycling is expected to grow by 20% per year, through 2040.
Electra launched its black mass demonstration plant at the end of December 2022 and has processed material in a batch mode, successfully extracting lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, and graphite. Electra says the recovery and subsequent production of a technical-grade lithium carbonate at the plant validates the company’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process and efforts to date in commissioning the refinery complex.
As a result of preliminary results achieved to date and interest expressed by potential commercial partners, Electra has decided to extend its black mass processing and recovery activities…
