By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : September 17, 2025 5:48 pm
Launches global expansion with breakthrough battery metal recycling technology
SK Innovation is taking a major step into the global battery recycling market with its proprietary Battery Metal Recycling (BMR) technology.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with U.S.-based engineering leader KBR to commercialize lithium hydroxide recovery technology, marking a strategic collaboration that strengthens its position in the rapidly expanding industry.
The MoU was signed during the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, held from September 16 to 18.
Through this agreement, KBR will integrate SK Innovation’s BMR technology with its proprietary PureLi high-purity crystallization technology, providing a unique solution to the global market while generating royalty revenue for SK Innovation. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Phil-seok, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Director of SK Innovation’s Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, and Gautham Krishnaiah, Chief Technology Officer of KBR.
SK Innovation’s BMR technology stands apart for its ability to directly recover lithium hydroxide from used batteries, an innovation that addresses the limitations of conventional recycling methods.
KBR’s PureLi technology complements this by removing impurities from lithium-containing solutions and producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide through an advanced crystallization process. Together, the two technologies will offer a differentiated solution to meet the surging global demand for sustainable battery materials.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, SK Innovation CTO Kim Phil-seok said, “With SK Innovation’s cutting-edge lithium recovery technology, we can fully meet the EU Battery Regulation’s mandatory recovery rates. The performance of batteries produced from recovered lithium has already been verified. We are committed to leading the global market in battery recycling with technologies that are both eco-friendly and aligned with global regulatory requirements.”
KBR CTO Gautham Krishnaiah added, “SK Innovation’s lithium recovery technology is more cost-effective than traditional wet, dry, and carbon reduction processes. By combining it with KBR’s high-purity crystallization technology and our licensing expertise, we can create strong synergies that ensure business viability and provide a competitive advantage in the global market.”