ElectraLith is creating a new filtration method that extracts lithium from brine deposits using minimal energy and does not require water or chemicals. This technology is particularly crucial for water-scarce regions such as Chile’s Atacama desert.
ElectraLith, a lithium technology startup backed by Rio Tinto, is poised to finalise a funding round next week, aiming to raise AUD 29 million (USD 19 million). This comes at a time when the global lithium market faces challenges, according to the company’s Melbourne-based CEO, Charlie McGill. The startup is working on a revolutionary filtration technology, termed DLE-R, which enables lithium extraction from brine deposits without the use of water or chemicals, consuming minimal energy. This technology is particularly significant for arid regions like Chile’s Atacama desert.
Despite the current downturn in the lithium and venture capital markets, McGill expressed satisfaction with the investor interest, noting the funding round was oversubscribed. The company, co-owned by venture capital firm IP Group, Rio Tinto, and Monash University, aims to use the funds to construct its first pilot plant at Rio Tinto’s Rincon operations in Argentina. This pilot, about a year from initiation, will be the first of three planned facilities.
ElectraLith’s innovative process filters brine through two membranes that extract lithium and convert it into lithium hydroxide, then re-injects the remaining brine back into the aquifer. McGill highlighted ongoing efforts to scale up the membrane technology for large projects while retaining its effectiveness. He also noted the competitive edge their process offers by operating at roughly half the cost of conventional methods, addressing significant water availability issues in lithium-rich regions.
The company’s presence extends to Utah, where it collaborates with Mandrake Resources on a project that leverages the local scarcity of water permits to its advantage, given its technology’s minimal water requirements.
