AMI Looking to Adapt Patented Process to Recycle Lithium Ion Batteries

Surrey, BC Canada, August 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​Larry W. Reaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Manganese Inc. (“American Manganese” or “AMI” or the “Company”), (TSX.V:  AMY; Pink Sheets:  AMYZF; Frankfurt:  2AM), is pleased to announce the Company is looking to adapt the AMI Patented Process to recycle spent lithium ion battery materials.  With lithium ion battery recycling in its infancy, American Manganese Inc. aims to capitalize on its patented technology and proprietary know-how to become an industry leader in the recycling of lithium ion batteries.

With the rapid development and commercialization of electric vehicles, the lithium ion battery market is expected to grow significantly.  The cathode materials in these batteries are used to store and discharge energy.  These materials contain lithium imbedded in a base metal oxide matrix and represents the largest single materials cost in the manufacture of lithium ion cells (ranging from 20 to 30% of the materials cost of a cell).

Mr. Norman Chow, President of Kemetco Research Inc., says:  “There is currently no known commercial technology for the large scale recycling of cathode materials of multiple chemistries.  The spent cathode materials represent an ideal resource material to be processed with American Manganese’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process.”

Mr. Larry Reaugh commented that:  “Successful application of the AMI Patented Process could result in the following benefits:

• Lower cost of raw materials, potentially generating higher profit margins for battery manufacturers.

• Hydrometallurgical processing eliminates product crushing and grinding potentially lowering processing costs, while generating products with less extraneous metal contamination thereby lowering the chances of battery explosions or fires due to thermal run-away.

• Significant environmental benefits including, but not limited to:

  • Substantial reduction of landfill waste,

  • Reduction of energy consumption and emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, and

  • Reduced consumption of critical and strategic metals.

• Hydrometallurgical process is easily scalable.

• Potential to recycle all lithium and base metal matrix compounds.

• Applicable to multiple lithium ion battery chemistries including Lithium Cobalt (LiCoO2), Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (LiNixMnyCozO2), and Lithium Manganese (LiMn2O4).

• Ability to tailor treatment process to precipitate cathode materials with tailored structures and chemistries for improved battery performance.”

The Company intends to partner with Kemetco Research Inc. to demonstrate on a bench scale that the conceptual process can successfully treat spent lithium ion battery cathode materials, producing rejuvenated materials suitable for re-use in new lithium ion batteries.  The proposed testing program would be carried out at Kemetco Research Inc.’s laboratory located in Richmond, BC. 

Funding

American Manganese Inc. is actively exploring many potential sources funds for this work, including:  government research grants available in Canada or the United States; a strategic alliance with an established company in the lithium ion battery, electric vehicle, or materials recycling businesses; a joint venture with a funding group; and sale of a royalty on future use of the AMI Patented Process.

About American Manganese Inc.

American Manganese Inc. is a diversified specialty and critical metal company focused on capitalizing on its patented intellectual property through low cost production or recovery of electrolytic manganese products throughout the world.

About Kemetco Research Inc.

Kemetco Research Inc. is a privately owned contract research and development company specializing in extractive metallurgy, chemical processing and specialty chemical analysis.  It was formed after the acquisition of the industrial process division of B.C. Research, which had been in operation for over 60 years as a research and development contractor in British Columbia.

On behalf of Management

AMERICAN MANGANESE INC.

Larry W. Reaugh
President and Chief Executive Officer

Information Contacts:

Larry W. Reaugh
President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone:  778 574 4444; Email: [email protected]

www.americanmanganeseinc.com

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