MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd, an R4 recycling
company providing end-to-end solutions for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries,
has been granted a patent by the Indian Patent Office for its proprietary
Hybrid Hydrometallurgy (HHMR) technology.
The patented process enables the efficient recovery of
critical minerals from energy storage devices and electronic waste, including
end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, irrespective of their chemical composition,
size or shape.
The HHMR technology integrates multiple recovery techniques
into a unified hydrometallurgical process, enabling the efficient extraction of
valuable critical minerals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
The process enables the recovery of high-purity materials
including lithium, cobalt, manganese, aluminium, copper and nickel, along with
spherical graphite with up to 99 per cent purity, while maintaining a low
environmental footprint.
Designed and developed in India, the technology addresses
the growing need for sustainable and resource-efficient battery recycling
solutions as the adoption of electric vehicles and energy storage systems
accelerates globally.
The patented process has already been successfully deployed
and validated at MiniMines’ commercial facility, where it forms the foundation
of the company’s lithium-ion battery recycling operations.
Commenting on the milestone, Arvind Bhardwaj, Co-Founder
& CTO, MiniMines Cleantech Solutions, said, “The grant of this patent is a
significant milestone in MiniMines’ journey towards building indigenous
technology capabilities for India’s critical minerals ecosystem. Hybrid Hydrometallurgy
(HHMR) represents our commitment to developing sustainable, scalable and
commercially viable solutions that enable resource recovery while reducing
environmental impact. As India’s demand for critical minerals continues to
grow, technologies like HHMR will play an important role in strengthening
resource security and accelerating the transition towards a circular economy.”
The patent reinforces MiniMines’ focus on technology-led
innovation in the critical minerals sector. Beyond lithium-ion batteries, the
company is leveraging its advanced recovery expertise to extract critical
minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) from diverse and complex waste streams.
MiniMines’ efforts to build India’s critical mineral and
rare earth ecosystem are backed by institutional support, including Rs 43
million in grants from Oil India Corporation following multiple process
validations, recognition from UNIDO, BEE and GEF for its low-carbon battery
recycling technology, and support from ACT Grants and Mercedes-Benz through its
Climate Tech Incubator, Villgro.
The company also recently collaborated with Maruti Suzuki to
recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and support its sustainability and EV
ambitions.
As India works towards strengthening domestic capabilities
across clean energy, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing sectors,
MiniMines’ patented HHMR technology represents a step forward in building a
robust circular economy ecosystem for critical materials.