Lithium-Selective Adsorbent for Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)
A proprietary lithium-selective adsorbent material and associated concentration process that recovers high-purity lithium from salt-lake brine, geothermal water, seawater, and spent LIB black mass, requiring only pure water for elution.
Problem solved
Conventional lithium recovery from brine requires large solar evaporation ponds (months to years, weather-dependent, high water loss) or solvent extraction with chemical-intensive processes. This adsorbent enables selective lithium capture in a compact DLE process with no added chemicals for elution.
Application contexts
- Direct lithium extraction from salt-lake brine in South America
- Lithium recovery from geothermal brine in Japan and globally
- Lithium recycling from spent LIB black mass
- Lithium removal/recovery from industrial process wastewater
Technical principle
The adsorbent material (patented composition, JP3937865, JP5700338) contains lithium-selective binding sites that preferentially adsorb Li+ ions even in the presence of high concentrations of competing cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+). Lithium is eluted using pure water alone, producing a high-purity lithium concentrate suitable for downstream refining into battery-grade LiOH or Li2CO3.
Typical use cases
- Brine operators in Salar de Atacama or Salar de Olaroz evaluating DLE alternatives to evaporation pond expansion
- Geothermal power plant operators in Japan or Indonesia seeking lithium extraction as a by-product revenue stream
- LIB recyclers needing a chemical-free lithium purification step from black mass leachate
Partnership route
How global engineering teams typically engage this asset.
Helpful to include: Adsorption capacity (mg Li/g adsorbent) for target brine composition · Selectivity ratios: Li/Na, Li/K, Li/Mg in relevant concentration ranges · Adsorbent cycle life under continuous operation · Capital and operating cost estimate for a 1-tonne-LCE/year pilot unit
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- Source: Home | Rare Metal R&D Inc - Lithium Adsorbent
- Original language: EN
- Summary AI-assisted; translation status: Unreviewed