Nth Cycle begins commercial operations of patented electro-extraction mining and refining technology
Nth Cycle, the innovative metal processing and recycling technology company that was a participant in Cohort 2 of the “Innovation Crossroads” program, has begun commercial operations of its patented electro-extraction mining and refining technology.
Called the OYSTER, the commercial unit will process a range of materials for validation with the company’s growing list of near-term partners and is currently processing black mass, the end product from mechanical separation of end of life batteries.
As described in this news release, Nth Cycle’s technology allows miners, refiners and recyclers to recover critical minerals from low-grade ores, mine tailings, and metal-containing waste from a variety of industries like discarded batteries using only electricity and carbon filters. Electro-extraction is a cleaner, lower-cost alternative to the conventional, and prohibitively dirty pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy processes currently used by mining companies and battery recyclers.
“As the world moves towards an electrified, net-zero future, we should strive to ensure the tools of that transition are as clean as the future we envision,” said Megan O’Connor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “The ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will dramatically accelerate critical mineral mining and refining activity in the U.S. through stringent ‘localized’ requirements for the critical minerals used to make the batteries that power electric vehicles. We expect Nth Cycle’s electro-extraction technology to be a pivotal solution in closing the resulting gap between supply and demand for domestic critical materials through cost-effective, efficient and environmentally-conscious refining at home.”
