Gelion plc’s wholly owned subsidiary, Battery Minerals Ltd, has reported significant progress in developing its proprietary lithium-ion battery recycling technology. Originally developed at Johnson Matthey and acquired by Gelion in March 2023, the process has now moved closer to commercial demonstration, with an initial project scheduled for 2026. Financing for this demonstration is expected to be structured in a way that does not dilute Gelion shareholders, either through direct investment in Battery Minerals or at the asset level.
Recent technical milestones at Battery Minerals’ London testing facility include:
- Validation of the Johnson Matthey-derived process, confirming ultra-high lithium extraction from battery-waste analogues.
- More than 95% lithium recovery from analogue materials under optimized process conditions.
- Over 80% lithium retrieval from partner-supplied real-world “black mass” battery waste in initial trials, meeting industry benchmarks. Testing is now scaling up to larger volumes with further process optimization to boost recovery rates.
Battery Minerals’ method relies on moderate processing conditions and non-toxic reagents, offering faster lithium extraction compared with conventional recycling technologies that often require hazardous chemicals and higher severities. The technique yields a lithium chemical product while reducing overall chemical consumption and eliminating the solid waste stream typically generated by traditional methods.
The company highlights additional environmental benefits, including lower energy demands and minimal hazardous by-products. With the global battery recycling market forecast to reach $30–40 billion by 2030, Battery Minerals aims to address growing concerns around battery waste and critical mineral supply security.
John Wood, CEO of Gelion, commented:“We are very pleased with the strong systematic process being achieved by our Battery Minerals subsidiary. The team delivering this, led by Jacob Carpenter, is being very effective in developing its proprietary value proposition to support future independent funding.”
Source: Gelion
