Water-based method recovers 65% of EV battery metals in one minute at room temperature

Rice University researchers developed a room-temperature, water-based recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries.

Using hydroxylammonium chloride, the method extracted about 65% of key metals in one minute, with some recovery rates rising above 75% with slightly longer treatment.

The approach could make EV battery recycling faster, cheaper, and less toxic than conventional methods.

It may also help secure supplies of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese as demand grows.