Brunp Recycling, a subsidiary of Chinese battery giant CAT, has achieved a 99.6 percent recovery rate for nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and a 96.5 percent recovery rate for lithium from recycled power batteries, the company said on Wednesday. CATL announced the results on its official Weibo account, describing the milestone as a major step in strengthening China’s circular battery economy.
The company said Brunp reached the high recovery rates through its proprietary Directional Recycling Technology (DRT), which integrates intelligent disassembly, hydrometallurgy, and material restoration processes. These techniques are designed to maximize metal recovery while minimizing waste and environmental impact.
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In 2024, Brunp processed more than 120,000 tons of waste batteries and produced 17,100 tons of recycled lithium salts, according to CATL. Based on an average electric vehicle battery weight of 300 kilograms, the company’s annual processing capacity equates to recycling batteries from between 200,000 and 300,000 vehicles, Science and Technology Daily reported.
CATL said this achievement helps reduce China’s reliance on imported nickel, cobalt, and lithium resources while supporting the regeneration of strategic materials vital to the nation’s electric vehicle supply chain.
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Headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong province, Brunp was founded in 2005 and is now the world’s largest battery recycling enterprise. Originally focused on consumer lithium batteries, the company shifted to power battery recycling in 2011. CATL became its controlling shareholder in 2015.
To date, Brunp has led or participated in drafting more than 80 percent of China’s national standards for lithium battery recycling, CATL said. The company has also contributed to 18 industry committees developing recycling protocols across sectors such as non-ferrous metals, automotive, chemicals, and logistics.