Innovation and Demonstration of Selective Electrodialysis for Sustainable Lithium Extraction (SelectLithium)

The increasing global demand for lithium-ion batteries, driven by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and grid-scale energy storage systems, necessitates the development of more efficient, scalable, and sustainable lithium extraction technologies. Traditional lithium extraction from hard rock mining and evaporation ponds is energy-intensive, slow, and environmentally taxing, often leading to significant water consumption and land degradation. Direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies have emerged as a promising solution, enabling higher lithium recovery rates with reduced environmental impact. Among various DLE approaches, electrodialysis using ion-selective membranes shows great promise but existing membranes have low ion selectivity.With the support of ERC-funded curiosity-driven fundamental research, we have developed a new generation of ion-selective membranes with great potential for lithium extraction. This proof-of-concept proposal focuses on advancing the commercialization of ion-selective membranes for DLE. The core objectives include: (1) optimizing membrane chemistries and compositions to improve selectivity of lithium towards other monovalent and divalent ions, as well as mechanical stability and chemical resistance; (2) Optimizing the selectivity of anion exchange membranes used in the electrodialysis system, (3) scaling up the single electrodialysis cell to electrodialysis stack prototype demonstrations to validate performance in complex brine environments; and (4) performing techno-economic assessments to evaluate cost-effectiveness and commercial viability.This project aims to accelerate technology transfer from laboratory research to industrial-scale applications and involves collaboration with industrial partners including large energy and small start-up companies. The outcomes of this work will support the development of a more sustainable and resilient lithium supply chain for the EU.