Products & Technology

Kosolus develops waste battery extraction agents and cathode material regeneration technology... aims for a technology-special listing in 2030

Posted : 2026.04.10 15:57

< Kosolus has developed a product lineup, including its flagship extractant, 'RECYION 156,' through molecular design optimized for waste battery black mass environments, enabling the extraction of a wide range of components / Courtesy of Kosolus >

Structural limits in the waste battery recycling market and Kosolus' direction. As the global battery industry shifts toward a circular economy, the importance of technology for recovering valuable metals from waste batteries is increasing. The existing recycling market has faced limitations, such as repurposing mining extractants or discarding cathode materials entirely. Kosolus is pursuing a chemical fabless model that designs extractants for recycling processes specifically for waste battery environments, while driving process innovation to regenerate discarded graphite cathode materials with high purity.

Technical differentiation of RECYION 156, the extractant for recovering valuable metals from cathode materials. Kosolus developed the RECYION 156 product line through molecular design optimized for the pH, temperature and impurity composition of waste battery black mass. Compared with existing imported products, the solution improves selectivity by 10%, shortens processing time by 10% and reduces auxiliary material consumption. It also secures a closed-loop production process, minimizing wastewater generated during manufacturing.

Energy efficiency and purity data for RECARBION, the cathode material regeneration brand. RECARBION uses molecular vibration heating technology to heat graphite to more than 900 degrees Celsius within one minute. This improves energy efficiency by 64% compared with conventional heat treatment methods while producing regenerated graphite with a purity of more than 99%. Through this, the company has laid the groundwork for re-supplying graphite for cathode materials domestically, instead of relying entirely on imports.

Technology validation achievements with HS HYOSUNG and major companies. Through the Deep Tech Value-Up Program at the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, Kosolus collaborated with HS HYOSUNG Corporation and HS Hyosung Advanced Materials. In the process of developing resin for carbon composites using byproducts from extractant manufacturing, the company completed an analysis of TANSOME carbon fiber applications. It also finished performance verification of the extractant with major domestic recycling companies and demonstrated the potential for applying regenerated graphite to conductive pastes for electronic components and displays.

Investment status and global market expansion roadmap. Kosolus has more than 20 researchers, including four Ph.D. holders, and has completed Series A funding. The company plans to secure support from Global TIPS and raise Series B funding in 2026, with a technology-special listing targeted for 2030. In response to the European Battery Passport and North America's supply chain independence policies, it is working to establish standards in the global recycling materials market.

FAQ WHAT What is Kosolus' core business in waste battery recycling? Kosolus' core business is supplying extractants that separate nickel, cobalt and lithium from black mass, as well as developing processes to regenerate graphite cathode materials, which were previously discarded entirely, to a purity of more than 99%. HOW How do Kosolus' extractant and cathode material regeneration technologies work? RECYION 156 selectively separates metals through molecular design optimized for waste battery environments, while RECARBION regenerates graphite at temperatures above 900 degrees Celsius within one minute using molecular vibration heating. RESULT What are the specific improvements when Kosolus' technology is introduced? Compared with existing processes, it has achieved a 10% improvement in selectivity and a 10% reduction in processing time. In cathode material regeneration, it raises energy efficiency by 64% compared with conventional heat treatment, maximizing resource circulation efficiency.

This content was prepared by MaeKyung Biz Content Planning Team based on official announcements and press releases.