Ascend Elements achieved a significant milestone in domestic critical minerals recovery last month – producing >99% pure, recycled lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from black mass for the first time at commercial scale. Black mass is a dark, powdery material recovered from used lithium-ion batteries during the recycling process.

The company operated a commercial-scale (3 kiloton per year) lithium recovery line at its battery recycling facility in Covington, Georgia last month to demonstrate the commercial viability of lithium recovery and recycling. Ascend Elements plans to produce >15,000 metric tons of recycled Li2CO3 per year in the United States and Europe by 2027.

In addition to the 3,000 metric-ton-per-year lithium recovery line in Covington, Georgia, Ascend Elements plans to operate a state-of-the-art battery materials facility and advanced lithium recovery line at a new location in Europe.

Ascend Elements achieved a significant milestone in domestic critical minerals recovery last month – producing >99% pure, recycled lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from black mass at commercial scale for the first time.

“Ascend Elements is at the center of three macro trends: Electrification, localization and critical minerals. Our production of recycled lithium carbonate is an important milestone across all three of these trends,” said Linh Austin, President and CEO of Ascend Elements. “By producing recycled lithium carbonate at commercial scale in the United States and Europe, our team will advance energy independence, critical minerals security and electrification for the Western world.”