Texas-based Element3 licenses seven technologies for lithium recovery
The technologies were developed through the Critical Materials Innovation Hub that is dedicated to ensuring secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals and materials.
A collection of seven technologies for lithium recovery developed by scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been licensed to Element3, a Fort Worth, TX-based company focused on extracting lithium from wastewater produced by oil and gas production.
The technologies were developed through the Critical Materials Innovation Hub, a Department of Energy Energy Innovation Hub led by Ames National Laboratory that is dedicated to accelerating scientific and technological solutions to ensure secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals and materials.
Lithium-ion batteries power electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and defense technologies, as well as providing energy storage for the nation’s power grid. The worldwide lithium battery market is projected to grow by a factor of 5 to 10 in the next decade.
“It is critically important to the United States economy and national security that domestic sources for lithium — both raw and refined — are developed,” said ORNL’s Cynthia Jenks, Associate Laboratory Director for the Physical Sciences Directorate.
The technologies licensed to Element3 include membrane extraction techniques and new separation methods. The team of inventors behind the technologies includes ORNL’s Ramesh Bhave, Syed Islam, Jayanthi Kumar, Bruce Moyer, Parans Paranthaman, and Ilja Popovs. Former ORNL scientists Vishwanath Deshmane, Nicholas Linneen, Mary Healy, Tej Lamichhane, and Henry Musrock also contributed to the technologies.
“This collection spans the entire process for direct lithium extraction, and it will help bring a true solution to market,” said Hood Whitson, Chief Executive Officer of Element3. “We were attracted to ORNL because Bruce and Parans are truly world leaders and foundational scientists in this area of expertise.”
