ILiAD Technologies specializes in direct lithium extraction (DLE) using a patented process that requires only water and minimizes fresh water usage by up to nine times compared to conventional methods. Their technology effectively recovers lithium from various brine sources while reducing physical footprints by 1,000 times, addressing the environmental impact of traditional lithium extraction processes.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional lithium extraction methods, such as evaporation ponds and hard rock mining, have significant environmental impacts, including high fresh water consumption, large physical footprints, and the use of chemical reagents. These methods can also result in lithium salt losses and are not viable for all types of brine resources.
Solution
ILiAD Technologies offers a direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology that addresses the environmental concerns associated with conventional methods. Their patented process uses only water to strip lithium, minimizing fresh water usage by up to nine times compared to conventional salar methods and up to three times compared to hard rock methods. The technology is effective across a wide range of brine resources, including salar brines, produced water brines, geothermal brines, and ground water sources, even with high levels of total dissolved solids and impurities. The modular system is designed for easy integration into existing operations, reducing system complexity and total installed costs.
Target Audience
The primary customers are lithium producers, mining companies, and geothermal energy operators seeking more efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly lithium extraction methods.
Features
- Patented DLE process using only water, eliminating the need for chemical reagents
- Reduced fresh water usage compared to conventional lithium extraction methods
- Smaller physical footprint compared to traditional evaporation ponds and hard rock mining
- Viable for a wide range of brine resources with varying lithium concentrations and impurity levels
- Modular system design for easy installation and scalability
- High-quality lithium chloride (LiCl) product with 99.9% or greater impurity rejection
- Demonstrated absorbent lifespan of up to 6 years
- Achieves 90% or greater lithium recovery rate from ground water sources with as little as 10% total dissolved solids