Technology Minerals PLC (LSE:TM1) told investors its 48.25% battery recycling business, Recyclus Group, has been given patent pending status from the European Patent Office for a lead paste desulphurisation process.
The process, developed at the Recyclus facility in Tipton, West Midlands, represents “a significant step forward”, Technology Minerals said in a statement.
Recyclus now awaits the receipt of the International Search Report, which will be the next step in the efforts to protect the firm’s intellectual property.
“We are delighted with the results generated by our innovative new approach to the lead paste desulphurisation process, which we have successfully developed to deliver improvements to our end customers, both in terms of processing costs and reduced levels of hazardous waste gases, which ultimately supports the global push towards NetZero,” said Technology Minerals chair Robin Brundle “We are eagerly working towards achieving patent status and will update the market on our progress in due course."
The company noted that Recyclus has developed an innovative process that significantly reduces the sulphur content in the recycled lead paste, producing what it describes as 'alpha' paste which, when smelted, produces lower levels of hazardous sulphur oxide (SOx) and significantly less energy to produce.