Aqua Metals, the lead battery recycling company, announced it had won its first patent for its AquaRefining technology on June 1.

The Devices and Method for Smelterless Recycling of Lead Acid Batteries patent was awarded by the Korea Intellectual Property Office, which the company said it had approached because the examining authority is well known for its rigorous testing standards.

Because of this reputation, Australia, China and other Asian territories tend to follow KIPO’s lead, said Aqua Metals chairman and CEO Stephen Clarke (pictured).

He also said he anticipated that this would be the first of many patents and that it validated the hard work and progress the team had made.