Nevada-based Aqua Metals is a step closer to making the process of manufacturing lead batteries more environmentally sustainable after it successfully tested a new method to produce battery material from its AquaRefining technology.
The company said in a statement on Wednesday that it had filed a provisional patent for this process, which is also likely to be more environment-friendly and cost-effective compared to the traditional process of making lead batteries.
Under this process, lead-acid battery makers would be able to skip the lead refining and ingoting processes, since the lead briquettes produced through the AquaRefining technology will be able to transition to the melting stage directly. Steve Cotton, president, and chief executive officer at Aqua Metals noted that this new technology and process would produce high purity (99.996pc) lead briquettes.
On Jan 25, Aqua Metals also signed an agreement with global chemicals company BASF to purchase electrolytes, a key ingredient in producing the briquettes.