The Technology
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel ion-selective membrane that can extract lithium from geothermal brines with unprecedented efficiency. The technology uses a bio-inspired polymer structure that selectively captures lithium ions while rejecting magnesium and sodium.
Key Advantages
- 60% reduction in production costs compared to conventional evaporation ponds
- Water usage reduced by 90%
- Extraction time cut from 18 months to 24 hours
- Compatible with low-concentration brine sources previously considered uneconomical
Commercialization Timeline
The technology has been licensed to EnergyX, which plans to deploy pilot plants at three sites in the U.S. Salton Sea region by mid-2027. If successful, full-scale commercial operations could begin by 2028.
Market Implications
Analysts estimate that widespread adoption of DLE technology could unlock lithium reserves equivalent to 50 years of current global demand, fundamentally reshaping the supply outlook.
