American Manganese Inc. (TSX-V:AMY, OTCQB:AMYZF) said it has begun first-stage testing of its RecycLiCo demonstration plant project with lithium-ion battery cathode production scrap feed material.
The scaled-up demonstration plant is designed with a 500 kilograms per day input capacity of lithium-ion battery waste and will require each processing step of the process to be tested and analyzed, the company said.
"Kickstarting the first stage of our demonstration plant project is an incredible milestone, and we look forward to showcasing our scaled-up technology to existing collaborators across the lithium-ion battery supply chain as we diligently progress through the demonstration plant processing steps," said Larry Reaugh, president and CEO of American Manganese in a statement. "We believe this new phase of activities will continue to drive strategic engagement in the lithium-ion battery supply chain and enable the development of our first commercial recycling plant."
READ: American Manganese delivers cathode precursor samples made from recycled material to third-party collaborators
The company said the plant testing schedule will consist of an approach that includes the characterization of the battery production scrap feedstock and its response to individual processing steps, to ensure consistent operating parameters to those developed in the laboratory and pilot plant scale. These parameters will include evaluating leaching retention time, temperature, and process chemical consumption to achieve target leach extraction efficiency for lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
The company added that it will report its progression and analysis throughout the demonstration plant's staged tests.
American Manganese is a critical metals company focused on recycling and upcycling lithium-ion battery waste into high-value battery cathode materials, using its closed-loop RecycLiCo process.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com