Aqua Metals Achieves Major Milestone in Recycled Battery Materials: First US-Sourced Nickel Integrated into Domestic CAM for Testing by a Tier-One Battery Manufacturer
RENO, Nev., March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS), a pioneer in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling, has worked with leading industry partners to successfully produce the first-ever cathode active material (CAM) made from 100% domestically sourced, recycled nickel. This achievement represents a critical step toward establishing a cleaner, more secure domestic battery supply chain in the U.S.
Using its proprietary AquaRefining™ process, Aqua Metals recovered high-purity nickel from spent lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap. Aqua Metals refined that recycled nickel into battery-grade nickel nitrate, a key precursor in advanced cathode production. One of Aqua Metals’ domestic CAM manufacturing partners then utilized an innovative, low-carbon process to convert the nickel nitrate material into battery-grade CAM. This CAM is currently undergoing evaluation by a tier-one lithium battery manufacturer under established qualification protocols, and initial testing was positive and the samples are progressing through the validation process.
Validating Recycled Minerals in Battery Manufacturing
Initial testing has shown that the recycled nickel CAM meets industry-standard chemical and electrochemical specifications set by the battery manufacturer, ensuring compatibility with existing cell production processes. Additional qualification testing will be ongoing to validate long-term performance metrics.
Aqua Metals’ and its U.S.-based partner’s closed-loop production process reduces the carbon footprint of CAM manufacturing by an estimated 87% versus sourcing this critical resource from China. These results support the environmental and economic advantages of a domestic, sustainable battery materials supply chain.
Steve Cotton, President & CEO of Aqua Metals, said:
This milestone confirms that Aqua Metals’ technology enables the reclamation and reuse of critical minerals entirely within the United States, supporting both energy security and the clean energy economy,
“We have demonstrated that a circular supply chain for battery materials is commercially viable today, and we are committed to scaling this solution to meet the growing demand for sustainable, high-performance battery components.”
Onshoring Critical Battery Materials for U.S. Competitiveness
The U.S. lithium battery industry is projected to surpass 1.2TWh of annual cell production capacity by 2030, yet much of the necessary raw materials—especially nickel, cobalt, and manganese—are still imported. Establishing a domestic, circular supply chain for these materials is essential to reducing dependence on foreign sources, mitigating supply chain disruptions, and supporting the sustainability goals of automakers and battery manufacturers.
This effort also aligns with the growing demand for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-compliant battery materials, ensuring domestically produced CAM qualifies for federal incentives and strengthens America’s role in the global energy transition.
Advancing Sustainable CAM Production with Lower Carbon and Waste
Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining™ process eliminates the waste and emissions associated with conventional metal refining methods such as smelting and chemical-intensive hydrometallurgy. The CAM manufacturer involved in this milestone uses a low-carbon, waste-reducing process that eliminates sodium sulfate production, a major environmental burden of traditional CAM manufacturing. Aqua Metals and this manufacturer have established a collaborative framework to continue advancing sustainable CAM production.
By demonstrating a pathway to high-performance CAM with lower costs, reduced waste, and a dramatically smaller environmental footprint, this collaboration provides a scalable model for the future of battery material production.
A Step Toward a Sustainable and Secure Battery Future
The successful production and testing of recycled nickel-based CAM lays the groundwork for further expansion of U.S.-based battery recycling and material production. Aqua Metals remains committed to working with manufacturers to develop a secure, sustainable supply of domestically sourced battery materials, reinforcing its leadership in clean energy innovation.
READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market
Aqua Metals Achieves Major Milestone in Recycled Battery Materials: First US-Sourced Nickel Integrated into Domestic CAM for Testing by a Tier-One Battery Manufacturer, source
