US startup Nth Cycle presents the production of recycled nickel and cobalt in Ohio, with a modular system based on electroextraction, seeking to improve the global refining model dominated by China.
Refining critical metals with new methods
For decades, the United States has relied on foreign suppliers for essential metals such as cobalt and nickel. Today, more than 85% of global refining of these minerals comes from China. Nth Cycle takes a decentralized approach, with systems that allow for local refining and less exposure to foreign supply chains.
The company was co-founded by MIT professor Desirée Plata, engineer Megan O’Connor and scientist Chad Vecitis, they present their core innovation: electroextraction, a process that uses electricity and green chemistry to recover metals from industrial and electronic waste.
Nth Cycle’s technology is called “The Oyster,” a system that can be installed directly at recycling or mining sites. It has been commercially deployed in Fairfield, Ohio, and can process more than 3,000 tons of scrap per year. In addition, it can be adapted to obtain different metals, such as lithium and copper, depending on the waste source.
Nth Cycle operates under the refining as a service scheme: the company processes the waste and the customers receive the recovered metal. It is currently working with the battery, oil and gas industries and hopes to expand into the mining sector.
The idea originated in a university lab and was developed in ecosystems such as the MIT and Harvard. Backed by the Department of Energythe startup has grown with local talent and patient capital.
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Source and photo: MIT
