The Lithium Australia NL [ASX:LIT] share price is down today despite LIT filing a patent application concerning the recycling of alkaline batteries.
Source: TradingView.com
After a brief rise in morning trade, LIT shares slumped in the afternoon.
At the time of writing, the lithium stock was down 4%, exchanging hands for 12 cents — well down from its 52-week high of 21 cents.
LIT ‘fortifies’ its intellectual property
Lithium Australia today announced that its 90%-owned subsidiary Envirostream Australia filed a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application with IP Australia.
The application relates to Envirostream’s recycling process for alkaline batteries.
The process involves the separation of electrode materials (like cathode material or an anode) from alkaline batteries.
LIT said the alkaline battery separation process was used to generate samples for the 2021 field trial programme undertaken by its subsidiary.
Lithium Australia’s Managing Director, Adrian Griffin, thinks the patent can add further value to alkaline batteries:
‘The ability to add value to spent alkaline batteries is a further demonstration of Envirostream’s leading edge in the field of battery recycling.
‘A timely technical advance, it coincides with the introduction of the national battery stewardship scheme, designed to divert end-of-life batteries from landfill, and will enhance the value of the spent alkaline batteries available for recycling.’
LIT share price outlook
While LIT shares traded up in the morning, the momentum could not be sustained as the price fell.
After a vertical run-up of its share price in January, the LIT stock has retraced in recent months, down 40% from the January high.
It’s been treading water for the last three months.
So today’s decline could indicate a market that wanted bigger news than the one LIT announced today.
Although securing intellectual property is important in differentiating yourself in an industry dealing with a commodity metal, today’s patent update did not elaborate on the patent application’s commercial ramifications.
Additionally, Lithium Australia was not the only sustainability focused lithium producer to make an announcement.
Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd [ASX:MNS] today secured $20 million to fund its ‘green high performing lithium-ion batteries’ and rapid charging technologies.
At the time of writing, MNS shares were up 7.4% on the news.
It could be that some investors saw MNS as the greener pasture and redistributed their capital accordingly.
If you’re researching lithium stock investments and want more information or ideas, then I’d recommend reading Money Morning’s free 2021 lithium report.
If you’re keen for more reading, this report on energy disruption is also a great resource. It goes through finding promising energy stocks and discusses why the energy market is ripe for massive disruption.
Regards,
Lachlann Tierney,
For Money Morning
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