Lilac Solutions shares lithium extraction data as competition intensifies

Breakthrough in Lithium Extraction by Lilac Solutions

Las Vegas—Lilac Solutions announced on Tuesday significant advancements in its lithium extraction technology, claiming more than 90% lithium recovery from various brine formations and a 50% reduction in system construction costs. The release of this data aims to counter criticisms of inefficiency and high costs as Lilac seeks global clients.

Founded in 2016 and based in Oakland, California, Lilac Solutions has attracted investments from major entities such as BMW and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Historically, the company has been cautious about disclosing its direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology details. Despite rising interest from giants like Exxon Mobil and Saudi Aramco, no DLE technology has succeeded on a commercial scale without traditional evaporation ponds.

On Tuesday, Lilac unveiled a 24-page white paper on its fourth-generation technology, which utilizes ion exchange ceramic beads in a batch process similar to a laundry machine. This procedure involves washing off the attracted lithium using a water-and-acid mixture.

A Concerted Effort to Demonstrate Viability

Raef Sully, Lilac's CEO since February, emphasized the importance of the data release during the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference in Las Vegas. "Our technology works and I want to show that," Sully stated. "We're trying to close that gap between rumor and perception and be like, 'Hey, here we are. Here's the data.'" This move follows criticism from a short seller in July 2022, who accused Lilac partner Lake Resources of relying on what was called "Lilac's yet-to-be-proven technology," claiming the beads were only effective for 150 cycles.

Addressing these concerns, the latest version of Lilac's technology purportedly functions for 4,000 cycles and minimizes water usage via recycling equipment, according to Sully. The company plans to deploy this upgraded technology at Utah's Great Salt Lake, with a pilot plant expected to commence operations by October. Lilac is also exploring lithium projects in Arkansas, South America, and Europe.

Global Competition and Promising Data

Rivals of Lilac, including International Battery Metals, EnergyX, and Sunresin, are also vying for market share by promoting their respective DLE technologies. One notable competitor is Koch Engineered Solutions. Partnering with Standard Lithium, Koch has been testing its technology in Arkansas, reporting an average lithium recovery rate of 95.9% under specific conditions.

Garrett Krall, head of Koch's lithium business, highlighted the readiness of their technology: "We're trying to change the narrative and show this whole 'phantom DLE' thing is no longer phantom. We now are ready to guarantee our (DLE) process in any brine resource around the world."

Conclusion

As these technological advancements unfold, the race to establish a commercially viable DLE process intensifies. With Lilac's recent data release, the company aims to prove its technology’s effectiveness and cost-efficiency, potentially transforming the landscape of lithium extraction crucial for electric vehicle batteries.