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.
AI-assisted directory summary. Technical specifications, performance metrics, readiness and compliance labels are unverified unless individually supported and reviewed. Proposed partnership routes do not establish supplier consent, export eligibility, or willingness to sign an NDA. Confirm claims and test conditions with the linked sources and supplier before procurement or citation.
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 & provenance
Translation review status: unreviewed. Publication does not establish technical verification or supplier endorsement.
Original language: EN.
Record updated: .
- Rare Metal R&D Inc - Home
https://rmrd.co.jp/en/
Primary-source candidate; evidence review: pending.
Source accessed / recorded (collector timestamp): .
Source publication date: Not recorded.
- JP5700338B2 - リチウム吸着剤の製造方法及びリチウム濃縮方法並びに装置
https://patents.google.com/patent/JP5700338B2/ja
Supporting / discovery source; evidence review: pending.
Source accessed / recorded (collector timestamp): .
Source publication date: Not recorded.
Collector timestamps record when a source was stored, not an independent verification date. Source links provide context; they do not validate every specification, readiness label, certification, or proposed partnership route.