SK Innovation and U.S. engineering firm KBR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commercialize SK Innovation’s proprietary Battery Metal Recycling (BMR) technology for direct recovery of lithium hydroxide from spent batteries. The agreement was finalized at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference, held September 16–18, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal. Under the collaboration, KBR will integrate SK Innovation’s BMR process with its PureLi® high-purity crystallization technology, enabling the combined solution to address global demand for battery-grade lithium hydroxide while generating royalty revenue for SK Innovation.
SK Innovation’s BMR technology employs a fluidized hydrogen reduction reaction to recover lithium directly from black mass—the crushed mixture of cathode and anode materials—producing high-purity lithium hydroxide without extensive chemical inputs. In contrast to traditional recovery methods that separate metals sequentially and often yield lower lithium recovery rates, this approach reduces processing steps and environmental impact. KBR’s PureLi® system then removes residual impurities through continuous cooling and recrystallization, resulting in battery-ready lithium hydroxide suitable for high-capacity applications.
SK Innovation began developing its BMR process in 2017 by leveraging expertise from its refinery and petrochemical operations. In 2021, the company commissioned a demonstration facility capable of processing used batteries equivalent to about 800 electric vehicles per year, supporting more than 100 domestic and international patent filings.
An independent Life Cycle Assessment by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory found that SK Innovation’s method emits substantially fewer greenhouse gases compared with conventional lithium mining or brine extraction.
At the MOU signing, CTO of SK Innovation, Kim Phil-seok stated, “With SK Innovation’s cutting-edge lithium recovery technology, we can fully meet the EU Battery Regulation’s mandatory recovery rates, and the performance of batteries produced from the recovered lithium has already been verified. We are committed to leading the global market in battery recycling technology with our eco-friendliness and ability to respond to global regulations.”
Gautham Krishnaiah, KBR’s CTO, commented, “SK Innovation’s lithium recovery technology is more cost-effective than traditional wet, dry, and carbon reduction technologies. We aim to secure business viability by creating synergy with KBR’s high-purity crystallization technology and licensing capabilities.”
Furthermore, CTO Kim of SK Innovation delivered a keynote speech on the first day of the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference 2025, discussing the growth of the battery market, the importance of critical minerals, and SK Innovation’s advanced technologies. He highlighted the constraints in resource acquisition and environmental regulations due to the growth of the global electric vehicle and battery industries, emphasizing that SK Innovation’s BMR technology could be a viable solution.
Source: SKinno News
