Green Li-ion GLMC Modular Black Mass to pCAM Recycling

Green Li-ion is a lithium-ion battery recycling technology company headquartered in Singapore, co-founded by CEO Leon Farrant and CTO Dr. Reza Katal, who developed its rejuvenation technology after a Ph.D. at the National University of Singapore. It addresses the gap between shredding spent batteries into black mass and turning that powder back into battery-grade materials, a step that is usually slow, costly and concentrated in a few refiners.

Its GREEN HYDROREJUVENATION process takes crushed and shredded black mass and converts it directly into precursor cathode active material (GREENpCAM), anode-grade graphite and lithium carbonate. The technology is packaged as modular hardware that sits downstream of existing recycling lines: the GLMC-1 unit handles about 730 tonnes of black mass per year across LCO, LMO, NMC and NCA chemistries, a GL Train configuration scales to 3,000-10,000 tonnes, and GL LiFe targets LFP batteries. The first commercial plant runs in Atoka, Oklahoma, supplying battery recyclers and material makers.

• GREEN HYDROREJUVENATION: hydrometallurgical process that turns black mass directly into battery materials.
• GREENpCAM output: recycled NCM hydroxide precursor for cathode makers.
• Co-products: anode-grade graphite and lithium carbonate recovered from the same feed.
• GLMC-1 module: about 730 tonnes of black mass per year for LCO, LMO, NMC and NCA chemistries.
• GL Train and GL LiFe: scaled lines of 3,000-10,000 tonnes and a dedicated route for LFP batteries.
• Flexible deal models: licensing, tolling or circularity agreements and joint ventures.

Battery recyclers in Vietnam that already collect and shred e-scooter, EV and electronics batteries could add a modular unit to produce pCAM, graphite and lithium carbonate instead of exporting black mass. EV and battery pack makers could form tolling or joint-venture arrangements to recover materials from production scrap and warranty returns.

The company reports precious metal extraction efficiency of at least 95% and a capacity equivalent to 3 GWh of batteries per module per year. It says black mass processed through its machines gains about four times in value as it becomes pCAM, graphite and lithium carbonate instead of being sold as intermediate powder. The GL LiFe line targets yields above 80% for iron phosphate and lithium carbonate with a 12-month lead time, and the modular design fits into existing factories.

Growing volumes of end-of-life EV and electronics batteries, export restrictions on black mass and pressure for non-Chinese cathode supply chains are pushing recyclers to refine materials locally instead of shipping shredded powder. Southeast Asia is building battery and EV manufacturing around Indonesian nickel, so compact refining units that return pCAM to cathode makers fit a regional push for closed-loop battery supply.

Green Li-ion Pte. Ltd. is headquartered in Singapore with its first commercial-scale plant in Atoka, Oklahoma. It raised a USD 20.5 million Pre-Series B round led by Trirec in 2023 and lists Petronas, Equinor, EDP, SOSV, HAX and Banpu Next among investors and partners. Other milestones include a binding NCM hydroxide offtake with WMC, an HSBC green trade loan, granted patents and a 2025 SBR Technology Excellence Award.