Metal-Refining Startup Nth Cycle Debuts Commercial Refinery Amid Critical Minerals Demand

Nth Cycle, a U.S.-based metal-refining startup, has opened its first commercial nickel-cobalt refinery in Ohio, with plans to partner with recyclers and eventually miners to produce metals with less waste. The facility, which received a $7.2 million tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, produces mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), a key precursor material used by battery manufacturers.

The company’s proprietary refining technology, called the Oyster system, combines electroextraction and water filtration to target specific metals for extraction. This modular system can be deployed at recycling and mining sites, providing a decentralized and scalable solution to process metal scraps like nickel and cobalt.

Unlike traditional large-scale hydrometallurgical facilities typically located near large mines, O'Connor emphasized that Nth Cycle's approach is designed for smaller and more distributed sources of metals, such as recycled materials. The modular units of the Oyster system allow for flexibility, enabling them to be deployed where critical minerals are found, whether through recycling or mining.

"We've redefined refining with a modular solution that can be deployed across the U.S. and globally, wherever the resources are located," O'Connor said. "This model allows us to scale up quickly and meet the growing demand for critical minerals."

The Ohio refinery is capable of processing 3,100 metric tons of input per year, producing around 900 metric tons of MHP annually. Nth Cycle plans to scale by partnering with recyclers and deploying its Oyster units at various partner sites across the country.