Aqua Metals, Inc. AQMS

Company Overview

Aqua Metals, Inc. is a U.S.-based clean technology company focused on sustainable metal recycling, with an emphasis on lithium-ion battery recycling and lead recovery technologies. The company operates in the recycling, battery materials, and clean energy infrastructure industries. Aqua Metals originally developed a proprietary electrochemical process branded as AquaRefining™, designed to recover and refine lead from spent lead-acid batteries using a water-based process intended to reduce emissions and waste compared with conventional smelting. In recent years, the company has expanded its strategic focus toward lithium battery recycling and critical mineral recovery to address growing demand from electric vehicle and energy storage supply chains.

The company’s primary revenue drivers historically included lead recycling operations and technology licensing efforts tied to its refining platform, though operational restructuring shifted emphasis toward commercialization of lithium battery recycling technologies and partnerships. Aqua Metals serves battery manufacturers, recyclers, automotive-related supply chains, and energy storage markets. Its strategic positioning centers on environmentally focused hydrometallurgical recycling processes intended to recover metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and lead with lower environmental impact than traditional pyrometallurgical methods. Aqua Metals was founded in 2014 and became publicly traded through a reverse merger transaction. The company previously operated a lead recycling facility in Nevada before transitioning toward a technology-centric and lithium-focused operating model.