Direct lithium extraction with advanced energy recovery.
The challenge
A lithium developer needed to concentrate lithium as far as possible, using as little energy as possible, as part of a direct lithium extraction (DLE) process.
The approach
Rick’s team designed, procured, and implemented an OARO-based membrane brine-concentration process.
The system integrated high-efficiency pumps and an energy recovery device (ERD) with upstream softening and downstream lithium purification.
The result
The process achieved a 15× increase in lithium concentration, in what is believed to be the first use of an energy recovery device in a DLE operation.
Status: Rick Stover’s prior professional experience. Built and operating; the concentration figure is an achieved result. The rendering and the photo both show the system built and operated for this project.
