Mr. Larry Reaugh reports

AMERICAN MANGANESE INC. APPROVES SECOND LITHIUM-COBALT RECYCLING RESEARCH PROGRAM AS PROOF OF CONCEPT WORK NEARS COMPLETION

American Manganese Inc. has received and accepted the reagent optimization and locked-cycle scoping study proposal from Kemetco Research Inc. The testing program is scheduled to begin by mid-October, 2016.

Under the current research program, American Manganese has conducted scoping studies as a proof of concept to show that a popular cathode material, lithium cobalt oxide, could be leached and that the leached cobalt and lithium could then be precipitated for reconstituting the cathode materials. Phase 1 extractions of 100 per cent for both lithium and cobalt were achieved from cathode powders used for lithium-ion batteries, and phase 2 showed 91 per cent of the cobalt and 60 per cent of the lithium could be precipitated from the leach solution in a single pass. Repeating the cycle multiple times should increase the recovery of lithium to approach 90 per cent (see the company's press release dated Sept. 16, 2016).

"Currently, the company is diligently proceeding with phase 3 of its scoping test program to build prototype coin cell rechargeable batteries (see example: AMY lithium ion battery assembly 2012) from reconstituted lithium and cobalt powders generated to date," says Larry Reaugh, president and chief executive officer. "If phase 3 produces successful results, the company's process will be sufficiently proved to justify filing a U.S. provisional patent application of the company's proprietary process."

Kemetco has prepared a graduated technology development program with the goal of developing a complete flowsheet to maximize the recovery of valuable cathode components while minimizing reagent consumption and addressing water balance in an environmentally friendly and economic manner. The work breakdown structure is as follows:

• Bench-scale studies:
  • Reagent optimization and locked-cycle scoping studies on LiCoO2 (lithium cobalt oxide) (approved);
  • Locked-cycle optimization on LiCoO2;
  • Development work on LiNiMnCo (lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt), LiMnO (lithium-manganese-oxide), LiNiCoAl (lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum) chemistries;
  • Locked-cycle optimization on LiNiMnCo, LiMnO, LiNiCoAl chemistries.
• Pilot-scale studies:
  • Pilot plant demonstration and engineering scale-up.
• Precommercial demonstration:
  • Processing and testing customer products.

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