Tag Archives: Watercycle

Watercycle to test DLEC technology on Energia Minerals’ geothermal brine samples

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UK-based Watercycle Technologies, a deep tech company focused on developing sustainable, high-yield, low-cost, mineral extraction and water treatment systems, has signed an agreement with Energia Minerals (Italia) (‘Energia’) Srl, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Altamin Limited, to produce lithium carbonate from Energia’s Galería EL geothermal brine projects in the Lazio Region of central Italy using Watercycle’s proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC) technology.

Watercycle’s patented filtration process is, according to the company, proven to be able to selectively extract lithium from sub-surface waters/brines and is currently already being piloted in tandem with Cornish Lithium in the southwest of England. Its DLEC process is capable of treating a wide range of water types and can deliver dramatic reductions in costs, carbon emissions and water consumption compared with current processes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Watercycle will test the brines extracted from a borehole in Italy and, once the composition is understood, dedicated membranes will be fabricated by the team based on the chemistry of the water. Watercycle will then process a quantity of the brine using its DLEC process. Analysis of the composition of the lithium-rich solution produced from the process, as well as the composition of the de-lithiated brine, will then be undertaken. Watercycle will then process the lithium-rich solution to produce lithium carbonate salts, which it says is a key differentiator in its process compared to standard direct lithium extraction practises. This lithium carbonate salt will then be characterised to gather structural and chemical information as well as the chemical purity and recovery rate of the lithium salt. If successful, the two parties will examine the potential for initiating large scale pilot testing in Italy.

Watercycle CEO, Dr Seb Leaper, said: “We are delighted to be working with Energia Minerals who have recognised the potential of our unique approach to lithium extraction from brines. This agreement is a further validation of our proprietary membranes and processes, which are gaining increasing traction both nationally and internationally. Each brine has different characteristics, and it is part of our development model to test multiple brines to further prove the efficacy of our technology and provide leading-edge, sustainable solutions for lithium and critical mineral extraction from them.”

Watercycle co-Founder and CTO, Dr Ahmed Abdelkarim, added: “Our technology has taken years of development both within the University of Manchester and now within Watercycle, the vehicle that is advancing its development and implementing the commercialisation strategy. We are not only successfully partnering with lithium brine developers but also making fantastic headway in the extraction of multiple critical minerals including cobalt and graphite from spent batteries and the utilisation of our processes in desalination, critical in today’s world where water shortages are being becoming more pronounced. I look forward to announcing further progress as we rapidly develop the business and deliver commercial but sustainable solutions to the mineral extraction market.”

Watercycle Technologies to test direct lithium extraction solution at Cornish Lithium ops

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UK-based Watercycle Technologies Ltd, a critical minerals and water filtration specialist, has been granted a £500,000 ($572,428) Innovate UK Smart Grant, in partnership with Cornish Lithium Ltd, to test its direct lithium extraction (‘DLE’) process in Cornwall, England.

Watercycle says its patented filtration process can selectively extract lithium from sub-surface waters, such as those found in the Southwest of the UK.

Given lithium’s essential role in battery technologies, the ability to obtain it from waters cost effectively and establish a domestic supply of the mineral is vital for the UK’s net-zero strategy, it says.

Under the terms of the agreement, Watercycle will deliver a containerised filtration system to extract lithium from Cornish Lithium’s project in Cornwall at a pilot scale. The project, which includes an environmental impact assessment, is anticipated to complete in October 2023.

Watercycle was spun out from the University of Manchester and is backed by business accelerator Aer Ventures. Smart, meanwhile, is Innovate UK’s responsive grant funding program.

Watercycle CEO, Dr Seb Leaper, said: “Having already proven that our proprietary filtration membranes and systems work in lab conditions, we are excited to be working with Cornish Lithium to demonstrate their scalability and accelerate the creation of a resilient, domestic lithium supply chain in the UK. This agreement marks the next step in our development strategy as we look at the commercialisation of our technology, which is capable of treating a wide range of water types and can deliver dramatic reductions in costs, carbon emissions and water consumption compared with current processes.”

Watercycle co-Founder and CTO, Dr Ahmed Abdelkarim, added: “It is great to be working with like-minded partners, Cornish Lithium and Innovate UK, which, like us, are focused on making a positive impact on the global transition through advancing innovative technologies.”

Lead Geochemist at Cornish Lithium, Dr Rebecca Paisley, said: “Working with Watercycle in the development of a pilot system aligns strongly with our research and innovation strategy, as well as our continued efforts to trial multiple DLE technologies at pilot scale in Cornwall to establish the most effective and responsible process flowsheet. We have a good relationship with the Watercycle team and look forward to progressing the project over the next 12 months.”