Battery Supply Chain > Manganese Refining
Manganese Refining
Manganese refining for batteries is the conversion of manganese-bearing ores and intermediates into battery-grade manganese chemicals used in cathode active materials. The key battery chemical is manganese sulfate monohydrate (MnSO4·H2O), a precursor for NMC (nickel–manganese–cobalt) cathodes and a core input for emerging high-manganese cathode families including LMFP (lithium manganese iron phosphate) and high-Mn layered oxides. While manganese is widely available, battery-grade manganese requires strict impurity control and consistent chemical form.
>Why manganese refining matters
Manganese is often described as an “abundant” material, but abundance does not guarantee battery-grade suitability. Battery-grade manganese sulfate must meet low-ppm impurity limits because trace metals can poison cathode synthesis, accelerate degradation, and reduce safety margins. As LMFP and high-Mn cathodes scale, manganese chemical refining becomes a first-order supply-chain variable.
- Manganese is a chemistry lever for lowering cost and diversifying supply away from nickel- and cobalt-intensive cathodes.
- Battery-grade manganese sulfate is not interchangeable with industrial-grade manganese chemicals.
- Refining quality and consistency directly affect cathode yield and cycle life.
Battery-grade manganese products
Battery supply chains primarily consume manganese in chemical forms suitable for precursor and CAM synthesis.
- Manganese sulfate monohydrate (MnSO4·H2O): primary battery-grade manganese input for NMC and high-Mn cathodes.
- Electrolytic manganese metal (EMM): metallic manganese; can be used as an intermediate for chemical conversion depending on route.
- High-purity manganese dioxide (HP-MnO2): used in some battery chemistries and specialty applications; occasionally part of broader manganese chemical portfolios.
Where manganese is used in cathodes
- NMC: manganese contributes stability and cost reduction; nickel intensity varies across NMC families.
- High-manganese NMC variants: increased manganese fraction reduces nickel and cobalt dependence.
- LMFP: manganese is added to LFP to raise voltage and energy density relative to baseline LFP, with tradeoffs managed through materials engineering.
Refining routes
Ore-to-sulfate conversion
- Manganese ore is leached and purified to remove iron and other impurities.
- Solution is crystallized into manganese sulfate monohydrate.
- Battery-grade output requires tight control of trace metals and sulfate purity.
Metal-to-sulfate (EMM-based) conversion
- Electrolytic manganese metal can be dissolved and converted into sulfate.
- This route can simplify certain impurity challenges depending on the upstream metal purity.
- Energy intensity can be higher, and economics depend on local power cost.
Battery-grade requirements
Battery-grade manganese sulfate is defined by impurity limits, moisture control, and batch consistency rather than headline purity alone.
- Trace metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb): controlled at low ppm levels to prevent cathode contamination.
- Consistency: tight lot-to-lot variability required for precursor synthesis and CAM yield.
- Moisture and crystallization control: stable hydration state and controlled particle properties improve handling and processing.
Common bottlenecks
- Impurity removal and purification steps (especially iron and heavy metals).
- Qualification timelines with precursor and CAM producers.
- Utilities and reagent supply for hydromet processing at scale.
Mnganese refining and chemical plants
The table below lists representative manganese refining and chemical facilities supplying or targeting battery-grade manganese products. “Battery-grade status” indicates whether the site produces battery-grade manganese sulfate directly or produces high-purity intermediates used in battery chemical conversion.
| Company / Operator | Facility | Location | Primary products | Refining route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEM Co., Ltd. | Jingmen Battery Materials Base (manganese sulfate lines) | Jingmen, Hubei, China | Manganese sulfate; battery materials intermediates | Hydromet chemical refining |
| CNGR Advanced Material | Tongren / Qinzhou Materials Bases (Mn chemical lines) | Guizhou / Guangxi, China | Manganese sulfate; precursor chemicals | Hydromet chemical refining |
| Euro Manganese | Chvaletice Manganese Project (HPMSM plant) | Czech Republic | High-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) | Hydromet (residue reprocessing) |
| Manganese X Energy / C4V (proposed supply) | Battery Hill (battery-grade manganese sulfate pathway) | New Brunswick, Canada | Manganese sulfate (proposed) | Ore-to-chemical (planned) |
| South32 | Groote Eylandt Manganese Operations (downstream chemical pathways) | Northern Territory, Australia | Manganese ore; intermediates | Mining + downstream conversion via partners |
| Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group | EMM and manganese chemical plants | Ningxia, China | Electrolytic manganese metal (EMM); manganese chemicals | Electrolytic (EMM) + chemical conversion |
| MOIL / Indian manganese chemical producers (representative) | Manganese chemical conversion capacity (various) | India (multiple) | Manganese sulfate; manganese dioxide (varies) | Ore-to-chemical (varies) |
