Ascend produces recycled lithium carbonate from li-ion battery waste in US
US-based Ascend Elements says it achieved a significant milestone in domestic critical minerals recovery having produced >99% pure, recycled lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from black mass for the first time in US.
Black mass is a dark, powdery material recovered from used lithium-ion batteries during the recycling process. The company operated an advanced, commercial-scale 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 tonnes of recycled Li2CO3 per year in the US and Europe by 2027.
In addition to the Covington, Georgia recycling facility, Ascend Elements plans to operate a battery materials facility at a new location in Europe.
Lithium carbonate is a highly valuable critical mineral listed on the official US federal government list of critical minerals published in August 2025. It is used to manufacture lithium-ion batteries, glass and ceramics.
According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 98% of US lithium carbonate imports come from South America. Europe also imports most of its lithium carbonate from South America and China. The US and Europe currently have limited capacity to mine and process lithium carbonate.
A recently published life cycle assessment found Ascend Elements’ lithium recovery process is significantly cleaner than traditional mining processes – producing 86% lower carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions and 97% lower particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) emissions than spodumene mining and 37% lower CO2e emissions and 81% lower PM 2.5 emissions than Chilean brine extraction.
By 2030, Ascend Elements aims to achieve 99% lower CO2e emissions and up to 99.7% lower PM 2.5 emissions through additional decarbonisation efforts.
