Gradiant’s Boston-based spin-out company, alkaLi, has announced the launch of its advanced EC² technology, setting a benchmark in direct lithium extraction (DLE). The system has demonstrated an impressive 97% lithium recovery rate from salar brines in North America, with a guaranteed minimum of 95% at customer sites. This technology promises to enable faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable production of battery-grade lithium carbonate, catering to the growing demand in electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage, and consumer electronics.
The EC² Advantage
alkaLi’s EC² technology integrates extraction, concentration, and conversion processes into a unified system, optimizing lithium recovery while enhancing production efficiency. By achieving direct lithium extraction efficiency of over 95%, even in high COD content feedwaters, the system ensures reliable performance in challenging operational conditions.
The technology significantly reduces both operating and capital expenditures, with an estimated 50% savings compared to conventional methods. In addition to cost efficiency, EC² minimizes its carbon and water footprints, supporting sustainable production practices. Furthermore, EC² accelerates production timelines, reducing processes that once took months to a matter of hours.
With its modular design, EC² is available in compact, scalable units housed in 20- or 40-foot containers. This approach not only streamlines deployment but also ensures flexibility across a range of operational scales and environments. Moreover, the system complies with stringent regulatory standards by producing discharge-compliant water, which can be safely reintroduced into the environment or reinjected into operational systems.
The EC² system has been successfully validated at a commercial site in Clayton Valley, Nevada. Using Gradiant’s Concentrated Flow Reversal Osmosis (CFRO) technology, the system concentrated lithium to battery-grade quality, further demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world applications.
Broader Applications for Critical Minerals
alkaLi’s EC² technology is not limited to lithium extraction. Through its Elemental Technology approach, the system can recover a variety of critical minerals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, magnesium, and iron. This versatility makes EC² an attractive solution for addressing the growing demand for a wide range of essential materials.
In Western Australia, alkaLi is set to deploy a custom solution for nickel and cobalt recovery from mine wastewater. This system, enhanced with Gradiant’s Selective Chemical Extraction technology, purifies feedwater in preparation for advanced CFRO processing. The resulting concentrated products meet industrial-grade standards with minimal energy consumption. Similarly, in Southeast Asia, the EC² technology is converting mine wastewater into high-value magnesium sulfate, highlighting its adaptability and efficiency.
Modular Technology for Tailored Solutions
alkaLi’s EC² system integrates three core functions into its modular stack. The Extract phase achieves high-efficiency direct lithium extraction, maximizing recovery rates while maintaining scalability. During the Concentrate phase, CFRO technology refines lithium to concentrations exceeding 200,000 mg/L, suitable for battery-grade applications. Finally, the Convert phase precipitates lithium into solid forms, enabling the production of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
This modular and scalable design ensures that the EC² system can be tailored to meet the unique requirements of different industries and applications, providing a comprehensive solution for mineral recovery and refinement.
Industry Insights
“alkaLi’s modular approach to engineering the EC² technology stack continues Gradiant’s philosophy of maximizing the impact of our cutting-edge innovation across industries and regions,” said Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. “The minerals we target are essential to accelerating the electrification of society, and I am thrilled that alkaLi will play such an important role in making these raw materials available to the world’s pioneers.”
For more information about alkaLi’s EC² technology stack, please click here.
About Gradiant
Gradiant provides advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions for essential industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. Headquartered in Boston, the company employs over 1,000 professionals globally and develops technologies that optimize resource use and reclaim valuable materials.
About alkaLi
alkaLi is a Boston-based Gradiant spin-out focused on scaling lithium and critical mineral production using its proprietary EC² technology. Designed for efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability, alkaLi’s system adapts to diverse input sources, supporting a wide range of industrial applications.
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