Aqua Metals secures patent for battery recycling tech

RENO, Nev. - Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS), currently trading at $0.80 per share, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a Notice of Allowance for a patent application concerning the company’s lithium battery recycling technology. The patent, which covers key aspects of the AquaRefining™ process, marks a significant advancement in the company’s intellectual property portfolio. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company currently shows signs of being undervalued, though it faces significant financial challenges with weak profit margins.

The patent application, filed in January 2022, details a proprietary process that has been validated through extensive research and development, including lab and pilot operations. Aqua Metals has successfully demonstrated its ability to recover high-purity lithium carbonate and other valuable materials such as nickel and cobalt. The AquaRefining™ technology is characterized by its environmentally friendly approach, offering a reduction in waste, lower CO₂ emissions, and cost savings estimated at $1,100 per metric ton of black mass input compared to traditional methods.

Steve Cotton, President, and CEO of Aqua Metals expressed that the patent allowance is a critical step in the company’s strategy to expand its technology through partnerships and licensing opportunities. The company aims to establish a clean and domestic supply chain for battery materials. Despite recent stock performance challenges, with the share price down nearly 90% over the past year, analysts maintain a Buy rating with a $3 price target, according to InvestingPro data, which offers 16 additional investment tips for this stock.

Aqua Metals is also pursuing additional patents related to the production of lithium battery precursor materials and is currently in discussions with potential licensees and joint venture partners globally. The new patent is expected to be central in structuring these relationships.

The company’s mission is to lead the establishment of a domestic lithium battery supply chain, and this recent patent allowance represents progress in building a robust intellectual property portfolio to support that goal. While the company faces near-term challenges with cash burn and short-term obligations, detailed analysis available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report on InvestingPro provides deeper insights into the company’s potential and risks.

Aqua Metals, based in Reno, Nevada, is focused on commercializing its patented AquaRefining™ technology for sustainable recycling of lithium-ion batteries. This process is designed to be non-polluting and to close the loop on critical minerals for clean energy technologies.

The information for this article is based on a press release statement from Aqua Metals.

In other recent news, Aqua Metals Inc. reported a net loss of $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, equating to $0.03 per share. Despite this financial setback, the company has made significant strides in reducing operational and administrative expenses by 67.2% and 27.2%, respectively. Aqua Metals also recorded a $5.2 million impairment charge for its Sierra Arc facility, which is up for sale. This strategic move is expected to retire all company debt and generate additional cash reserves. The company is actively seeking partnerships and exploring cost-efficient locations to bolster its position in the critical minerals market. Future revenue projections stand at $1.2 million for 2025 and $7.8 million for 2026. Meanwhile, Comstock Inc. has appointed Judd B. Merrill as its new Chief Financial Officer and President of its mining subsidiary. Merrill’s extensive experience in financial management within the mining sector is expected to strengthen Comstock’s leadership as it expands its metal recycling business and prepares to spin off its renewable fuels division.

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