Battery Recycling Patent Landscape 2026
Battery Recycling Patent Landscape in 2026
Battery recycling is a growth-stage field with a corpus of 4,369 patent families expanding roughly 90% in recent years, concentrated around the Brunp/CATL cluster and Umicore as dominant filers. Activity is heavily weighted toward hydrometallurgical and direct recovery routes under H01M and C22B, while adjacent branches covering physical pre-processing and solid-waste handling remain comparatively sparse.
Brunp affiliates and Umicore lead a moderately concentrated field
The top-ranked applicant, Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd, holds 231 patent families, followed closely by Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd with 224 and Umicore (BE) with 201. Together, the three entities represent substantial concentrated ownership at the apex of the ranking.
The top five filers account for 34% of the combined total among the hundred largest filers — a moderate concentration level indicating that a significant share of activity sits outside the very top tier, and that challengers such as Ascend Elements and Green Li-Ion are building meaningful positions.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 231 | |
| 2 | Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 224 | |
| 3 | Umicore (Belgium) | 201 | |
| 4 | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 96 | |
| 5 | Ascend Elements Inc | 84 | |
| 6 | Green Li-Ion Pte Ltd | 65 | |
| 7 | UMICORE AG & CO KG | 50 | |
| 8 | GRST Singapore Pte Ltd | 47 | |
| 9 | Hunan Brunp Scrap Cars Recycling Co Ltd | 47 | |
| 10 | Aqua Metals Inc | 45 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Li-Cycle Corp | 45 | |
| 12 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 45 | |
| 13 | RSR Technologies Inc | 40 | |
| 14 | 1001297676 Ontario Inc | 33 | |
| 15 | ACN 630 589 507 Pty Ltd | 31 | |
| 16 | Regents of the University of California | 31 | |
| 17 | Northvolt Revolt AB | 29 | |
| 18 | Li Industries Inc | 27 | |
| 19 | Hunan Jinyuan New Materials Co Ltd | 27 | |
| 20 | CPS Technology Holdings LLC | 26 |
The Brunp entities’ near-identical family counts signal a coordinated patent strategy across the Brunp/CATL corporate family, while Umicore’s strong position reflects decades of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical IP developed independently in Europe, creating two structurally distinct leading blocs.
Rankings and the corpus total are measured in patent families; technology-branch, route-matrix, and jurisdiction figures are at the patent-record level (one family can carry multiple IPC classes or be filed in multiple offices), so those record-level counts can exceed the family total and should not be compared directly to it. The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are under-counted due to publication lag.
Multi-year growth remains positive with technology activity anchored in cell chemistry and metal recovery
The filing trend and technology-composition charts together reveal a field that expanded strongly through 2023 and now reflects a maturing mix of electrochemical and metallurgical disciplines. The branch breakdown shows where research energy is concentrated and where adjacent areas remain comparatively under-served.
Annual filing trend
Annual families grew from 123 in 2017 to a peak of 852 in 2023, representing the clearest indicator of the field’s growth phase. The apparent decline in 2024 and 2025 figures should be read cautiously: publication lag routinely under-counts the most recent 18–24 months, so those years are not reliable indicators of a sustained slowdown.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) dominates at the record level, reflecting the centrality of cell-level disassembly and cathode recovery IP. C22B (metal extraction and refining) is the second-largest branch, underscoring the importance of hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recovery routes. B09B (solid waste disposal) and B02C (crushing, grinding and pulverising) represent meaningful but smaller shares, pointing to physical pre-processing as a less-crowded adjacent area.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaFoundational and most-cited patents
The most-cited families that anchor this space. Hover a row and click to open it in Eureka.
VERFAHREN ZUM RECYCLING VON LITHIUMBATTERIEN
This application belongs to the field of battery recycling technologies, and specifically, to a lithium battery recycling method. The lithium battery recycling method includes: performing split processing on a lithium battery to obtain a metal shell and an electrode assembly respectively, where the electrode assembly includes a roll core or a lamination… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New and improved system for processing various che… | 852 |
| 2 | Flotation method for recovering lithium-ion batter… | 255 |
| 3 | Secondary battery and battery management | 154 |
| 4 | Methods for electrochemical cell remediation | 138 |
| 5 | Recycling of CIS photovoltaic waste | 95 |
| 6 | Method and apparatus for recycling lithium-ion bat… | 94 |
| 7 | System and method for removing an electrolyte from… | 91 |
| 8 | Battery recycling | 86 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts accrue over time, so this list favours older, broadly-cited patents and may include general-purpose work beyond the specific topic; treat it as foundational context rather than a current-activity ranking.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural dimensions — life-cycle stage, concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic spread — each carry distinct implications for where new entrants or incumbents should direct resources.
Growth stage, past its 2023 annual peak
The lifecycle evidence places battery recycling firmly in the Growth stage: the recent three-year filing window sits well above the prior three-year window, confirming multi-year expansion. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has eased since, though publication lag means recent figures understate true activity. Entrants still have room to differentiate, but the window for establishing foundational positions in core hydrometallurgical routes is narrowing as the major filers accumulate depth.
Growth · past 2023 peakModerate concentration with a clear two-bloc structure
The top five filers hold 34% of the combined activity among the hundred largest filers, a moderate level that leaves meaningful room for challengers. The field divides into a Chinese corporate bloc (Brunp affiliates) and a European industrial-chemistry bloc (Umicore), with North American pure-play recyclers — Ascend Elements, Li-Cycle, Aqua Metals — forming a distinct third tier. New entrants face a high bar in core cathode-recovery IP but can find differentiated positions in physical processing, electrolyte handling, or direct recycling routes.
Moderate concentrationCo-filing is dominated by intra-group Brunp pairings
The most active co-filing relationships are between Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd and Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd (225 jointly filed families), and between those entities and Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd (96 and 95 families respectively), reflecting coordinated IP strategy within the Brunp corporate group. Outside that cluster, Li Cycle Corp co-files with 1001297676 Ontario Inc (12 families), and Ascend Elements Inc co-files with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (7 families), the latter being a notable university–industry collaboration. Ecosystem partnerships outside the Brunp group remain sparse, suggesting opportunity for cross-sector joint development.
Intra-group dominantChina leads by a wide margin; US and Europe are secondary filing destinations
At the patent-record level, China accounts for the largest share of filings, followed by the United States, Europe (EPO), and WIPO (PCT). Canada, India, Australia, and South Korea each represent smaller but non-trivial filing destinations, reflecting the global battery supply chain. Japan’s relatively low record count is notable given its historical battery manufacturing strength. Filers seeking international protection should prioritise at minimum the US, EPO, and PCT routes to cover the major downstream manufacturing and end-of-life markets.
China-led, global spreadGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 225 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 96 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 95 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Scrap Cars Recycling Co Ltd | 51 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Scrap Cars Recycling Co Ltd | 51 |
| Li-Cycle Corp | 1001297676 Ontario Inc | 12 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Yichang Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 8 |
| Ascend Elements Inc | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 7 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Yichang Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 6 |
| Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Scrap Cars Recycling Co Ltd | 5 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Brunp affiliates dominate cell-chemistry IP; Umicore leads in metal-extraction routes
The top two ranked applicants are sister entities within the Brunp/CATL corporate family, giving that group a structurally commanding position. Umicore occupies a distinct technology lane with heavier emphasis on C22B metal extraction, making it the strongest independent incumbent.
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd
The top-ranked applicant with 231 patent families, Guangdong Brunp’s technology focus centres on H01M cell and battery IP (212 records), followed by C22B metal extraction (66 records) and B09B solid waste disposal (41 records). Recent filing momentum is up 48% versus the prior three-year period, indicating sustained investment rather than a plateau. Its near-identical portfolio to Hunan Brunp reflects a coordinated group strategy splitting IP registration across affiliated legal entities.
families: 231Umicore
Ranked third overall with 201 patent families, Umicore is the leading non-Chinese incumbent. Its technology emphasis inverts the Brunp profile: C22B metal extraction dominates (169 records), followed by H01M (131 records) and C22B 26 metal extraction sub-class (99 records), reflecting its pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical heritage. Recent momentum is up 69% versus the prior period — the strongest growth rate among the top three — suggesting active expansion of its recycling IP position to complement its cathode-materials business.
families: 201| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 130 | ▲ +48% |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 129 | ▲ +47% |
| Umicore (Belgium) | 103 | ▲ +69% |
| Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 47 | ▬ -4% |
| Li-Cycle Corp | 29 | ▲ +12% |
| Ascend Elements Inc | 73 | ▲ new entrant |
| Green Li-Ion Pte Ltd | 49 | ▲ 3.3× vs prior 3-yr |
Physical pre-processing and inorganic-compound recovery are under-served relative to core routes
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant H01M and C22B classes show materially lower patent-record counts, suggesting these areas are less crowded. These are observations of relative sparsity; they warrant further technical and commercial validation before concluding they represent clear investment opportunities.
B02C · Crushing, Grinding & Pulverising
With 526 patent records — roughly 5% of the record-level total — mechanical size-reduction and liberation of electrode materials is comparatively sparse relative to the downstream chemical recovery steps that dominate the corpus. Efficient, selective comminution is a prerequisite for both hydrometallurgical and direct recycling routes, and process improvements here can reduce reagent consumption and improve yield in subsequent steps. Entrants with expertise in fine-grinding or selective liberation (e.g. cryogenic or pulse-power methods) could differentiate at the front end of the recycling value chain, where fewer dominant players have staked deep positions.
Search this in Eureka →C01D · Alkali-Metal Compounds
C01D covers lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and related alkali-metal compound synthesis — the output stage of battery-grade lithium recovery. At 315 patent records (approximately 3% of the record-level total), this branch is notably sparse compared to the upstream extraction steps in C22B. As demand for battery-grade lithium chemicals intensifies and recyclers seek to capture more value by producing specification-grade precursors rather than intermediate concentrates, IP in purification and crystallisation of lithium salts from recycled feedstocks represents a plausible differentiation point for chemical-engineering-focused entrants.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route emphasis
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | C22B 7 · Metal extraction & refining | C22B 26 · Metal extraction & refining | C22B 3 · Metal extraction & refining | H01M 6 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umicore (Belgium) | Strong · 131 | Strong · 169 | Strong · 99 | Strong · 89 | Moderate · 35 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 212 | Moderate · 66 | Emerging · 34 | Emerging · 23 | Emerging · 22 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 207 | Moderate · 65 | Emerging · 33 | Emerging · 23 | Emerging · 21 |
| Li-Cycle Corp | Strong · 85 | Strong · 67 | Strong · 51 | Moderate · 33 | Emerging · 13 |
| Ascend Elements Inc | Strong · 82 | Moderate · 39 | Moderate · 33 | Moderate · 37 | Absent |
| Green Li-Ion Pte Ltd | Strong · 60 | Moderate · 25 | Absent | Strong · 55 | Moderate · 16 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 4,369 patent families globally. This is the family-level count; jurisdiction and IPC figures are measured at the patent-record level and can exceed this total because a single family may be filed in multiple offices or tagged to multiple technology classes.
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd leads with 231 patent families, closely followed by sister entity Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd with 224 families. Together with Umicore (BE) at 201 families, these three applicants form the apex of the ranking.
The field is classified as Growth stage. Recent three-year filing volume sits well above the prior three-year window, representing approximately 90% growth. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has eased since, but the most recent years are under-counted due to publication lag, so the apparent decline should not be read as a confirmed downturn.
H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) is the dominant branch at the patent-record level, followed by C22B (metal extraction and refining). These two classes together reflect the field’s focus on cell-level disassembly and downstream hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
China is the leading filing jurisdiction at the patent-record level, followed by the United States, Europe (EPO), and WIPO (PCT). Canada, India, Australia, and South Korea each represent secondary but meaningful markets. Japan’s filing count is comparatively low relative to its battery manufacturing footprint.
Two adjacent branches show relatively low patent-record counts compared to the dominant classes: B02C (crushing, grinding and pulverising) at approximately 5% of the record-level total, and C01D (alkali-metal compounds, including battery-grade lithium salts) at approximately 3%. These observations of relative sparsity are worth investigating for technical and commercial feasibility before concluding they represent clear entry opportunities.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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