Our Technology — Lithios DLE Platform

The Science

What is Electrochemical DLE?

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) is a class of technologies that selectively removes lithium ions from dilute brine solutions without the need for large evaporation ponds or extensive chemical processing.

Lithios's proprietary electrochemical approach uses specially engineered intercalation electrodes — analogous to battery electrodes — that preferentially absorb and release lithium ions when an electric potential is applied. This selectivity is what allows us to extract lithium from complex, multi-ion brines at concentrations as low as a few hundred parts per million.

The result is battery-grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate delivered directly from the electrochemical cell, with 99.5% purity and recovery rates exceeding 90%.

Electrochemical DLE reactor diagram showing intercalation electrodes and brine flow

Process Overview

How It Works

Five streamlined steps from raw brine to battery-ready lithium product — all within a compact, modular system.

Brine Intake & Pre-Treatment

Raw brine — from oilfield produced water, geothermal fluids, or salt lake brines — is collected and filtered to remove suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and other particulates. Minimal chemical pre-treatment preserves the ionic composition critical to our selective extraction.

Electrochemical Intercalation

Pre-treated brine enters the electrochemical flow cell. An applied voltage drives lithium ions to preferentially intercalate into our proprietary electrode material — a selective solid-state host that accepts Li⁺ while rejecting competing ions like Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺.

Brine Return

Lithium-depleted brine is returned to the source with its chemical balance largely intact — dramatically reducing environmental impact compared to conventional extraction that consumes and contaminates vast water reserves.

Electrochemical Release & Concentration

Lithium-loaded electrodes are transferred to a desorption cell where the applied voltage is reversed. Lithium ions are released into a clean water stream, producing a concentrated lithium solution (lithium eluate) at 3–10x the original brine concentration.

Product Crystallization & Quality Control

The concentrated lithium eluate undergoes final purification and crystallization to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH·H₂O) or lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) at ≥99.5% purity — certified and ready for direct supply to battery manufacturers.

Modular containerized DLE unit at field deployment site

Resource Diversity

Compatible Brine Sources

Unlike conventional lithium mining, Lithios technology works across an enormous variety of brine types — unlocking resources previously considered uneconomical.

Oilfield Produced Water

Billions of barrels of lithium-bearing produced water are generated annually by the oil and gas industry. Lithios converts this waste stream into a valuable lithium resource.

Geothermal Fluids

Geothermal power plants pump hot lithium-rich brines from deep reservoirs. Our co-extraction approach allows power producers to generate both clean electricity and battery-grade lithium from the same fluid.

Salar & Salt Lake Brines

Traditional hard-rock and evaporation-pond lithium operations can be upgraded with Lithios DLE units — reducing processing time from 18 months to days and slashing water consumption.

Battery Leachates

As the EV recycling industry scales, lithium recovery from spent battery leachates is critical. Lithios DLE enables efficient lithium recovery from complex recycling streams, closing the battery supply loop.

Sustainability

Built for the Planet

Every design decision in the Lithios platform prioritizes environmental responsibility — because clean energy storage must start with clean extraction.

90% Less Water Consumption

Conventional evaporation pond methods consume enormous volumes of fresh water in arid ecosystems. Our closed-loop electrochemical process returns brine to the source with minimal freshwater input.

95% Smaller Land Footprint

Our containerized modular units fit on existing industrial sites. No massive evaporation ponds or tailings facilities required — protecting fragile ecosystems like the Atacama and Bolivian salt flats.

Zero Toxic Tailings

Hard-rock lithium mining generates millions of tons of toxic tailings per year. Lithios's brine-based electrochemical process produces no solid mining waste and generates minimal chemical byproducts.

Renewable-Compatible Energy

Our electrochemical platform operates on direct electrical current and can be powered entirely by renewable energy sources, enabling fully carbon-neutral lithium production at scale.

Direct Lithium Extraction Platform