Gradiant, through its alkaLi division, has begun operating the world’s first commercial lithium production plant with the ability to extract, concentrate and convert lithium from wastewater generated by the oil industry. This plant is located in the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania, establishing a strategic shift in domestic lithium production for battery applications.
The lithium production plant integration model
By taking full control of the process, alkaLi owns the necessary equipment, land, mining rights and permits. This model avoids regulatory bottlenecks and allows for a faster start-up. The plant is based on EC² technology, a platform that combines direct extraction, concentration and conversion of lithium in a single automated system.
In its pilot phase, the facility has achieved 97 % lithium recovery and 99.5 % lithium carbonate purity, exceeding industry standards for batteries. With this capacity, alkaLi has signed a multi-year contract to supply up to 5,000 tons of lithium per year to a U.S. manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles. manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Gradiant’ s approach makes it possible to convert wastewater from oil wells into a strategic resource for the energy transition. The flexibility of the EC² system also makes it possible to adapt to other sources such as geothermal brines or lithium battery recycling.
EC² technology achieves operating cost reductions of up to 50% through its modular systems and integrated artificial intelligence for real-time control. This, together with a reduced environmental footprint, positions alkaLi as a key player in the sustainable production of critical minerals.
AlkaLi is offering its technology to other interested producers and investors, either through licensing, facility design or direct commercialization of the lithium produced. This strategy increases EC²’s potential to become a new standard in environmentally sound and commercially viable lithium recovery.
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Source and photo: Gradiant
