Watercycle Technologies and Primobius partner to boost sustainable battery recycling
(3rd March 2025, Manchester, UK and Hilchenbach, Germany) - Watercycle Technologies Ltd (‘Watercycle’), a UK-based climate-tech company specialising in critical minerals recovery, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Primobius GmbH (‘Primobius’), a specialist in innovative recycling solutions, to collaborate on optimising battery recycling processes and sustainable critical minerals extraction.
Highlights
In agreement to leverage advanced hydrometallurgical processes to drive innovation, reduce the need for new raw materials in the battery supply chain, and improve environmental impact.
Primobius’ two-step process recycles high-value components from end-of-life and scrap lithium-ion batteries with reduced carbon emissions, complementing Watercycle’s low-cost, high-yield mineral recovery systems.
The partnership will evaluate the potential for commercial collaboration on circular economy-focused projects.
Watercycle and Primobius have committed to collaborate on projects that support the sustainable extraction of critical minerals. Under this agreement, the companies pledge to share insights and optimise their respective technologies for battery recycling processes. This cooperation will also serve as a framework to explore the potential for a deeper commercial relationship. German-based Primobius’ novel technology offers a two-step method to recover high-value battery materials from end-of-life and scrap lithium-ion batteries achieving reduced carbon emissions. This innovative approach complements Watercycle’s sustainable, high-yield, low-cost mineral recovery systems, establishing a solid foundation for collaboration. The partnership aims to foster an innovative ecosystem, accelerating the commercialisation of technologies intended to reduce the need for new raw materials in the battery supply chain.
Dr Michel Siemon, CEO of Primobius, stated, “Partnering with Watercycle is a great opportunity to combine our strengths and push the boundaries of battery recycling. As a lifecycle partner, we focus on delivering solutions that maximize resource recovery and reduce the environmental impact. Together, we are expanding our ecosystem and thus enhancing our ability to help clients meet their sustainability goals and drive positive change in the industry.”
Dr Seb Leaper, Watercycle CEO and co-founder, commented, “At Watercycle, we are pioneering sustainable and scalable solutions for critical metal recovery. This partnership reflects our shared vision with Primobius of leveraging advanced hydrometallurgical processes to drive innovation while ensuring environmental responsibility. We look forward to entering this partnership and collaborating on projects that support a circular economy.”
ENDS
Watercycle Technologies - www.watercycletechnologies.com
Watercycle Technologies is a UK-based climate-tech company pioneering sustainable and circular critical mineral recovery essential for a Net Zero future, creating clean drinkable water in the process. It is initially focused on two areas critical to lithium production and creating a circular economy for the global energy transition, Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC™) and the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries and black mass (shredded batteries). Watercycle Technologies’ scalable, modular technology delivers dramatic reductions in costs and has a reduced environmental impact compared to other processes available. Its patented technology can also be applied to the extraction of other critical minerals and metals from all types of water, including wastewater.
For media enquiries about Watercycle Technologies please contact
Heloise Grandjouan at heloise.grandjouan@watercycletechnologies.com
About Primobius GmbH – www.primobius.com
Primobius, a joint venture between Neometals Ltd and SMS group GmbH, offers comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for battery recycling. As a lifecycle partner, Primobius supports clients at every stage of the recycling process, from the recovery of high-purity materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt from end-of-life batteries to their reintegration into the supply chain. Primobius minimizes environmental impact and maximizes resource recovery. Additionally, Primobius provides operational support and financial assistance, helping clients achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to a circular economy through a network of industry partners.