Li-Cycle has announced that its Rochester Hub facility in New York has achieved a 95% lithium recovery rate across all processed battery chemistries, surpassing the company’s 90% target and setting a new benchmark for commercial-scale hydrometallurgical processing. The facility processes 35,000 tonnes of black mass annually, producing battery-grade lithium carbonate, nickel sulphate, and cobalt sulphate.
Multi-Chemistry Flexibility
The Rochester Hub processes NMC, NCA, LFP, and mixed chemistries without requiring feedstock segregation—a critical operational advantage as the diversity of end-of-life battery types increases. The facility’s continuous processing approach eliminates the batch limitations of pyrometallurgical alternatives.
“95% lithium recovery at commercial scale proves that hydrometallurgy can meet the EU’s most ambitious recycling targets. The technology is ready—now we need the collection infrastructure to match.”—Ajay Kochhar, CEO, Li-Cycle
