Gradiant , a global leader in advanced water resources and resource recovery , has announced that its lithium business, alkaLi , will design, build, own and operate a commercial lithium production facility in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale formation that represents the world's first fully integrated, end-to-end process for the extraction, enrichment and conversion (EC²) of lithium from oilfield produced water.

This announcement builds on the introduction of alkaLi's EC² platform, announced last year, which guarantees a minimum of 95% lithium recovery at customer sites , enabling producers to supply battery-quality lithium carbonate more quickly, at a lower cost and in a sustainable manner.

Gradiant's alkaLi owns and operates the Pennsylvania facility, including the equipment, land, water and mineral rights, and permitting. This vertically integrated model ensures a long-term domestic lithium supply while avoiding the permitting and ownership delays that often occur in critical mineral projects.

Currently in the testing phase, the system has already achieved key benchmarks, demonstrating 97% lithium recovery from produced water and 99.5% purity in battery-quality lithium carbonate, with full commercial operations expected to begin in early 2026.

In a major commercial milestone, alkaLi has signed a multi-year offtake agreement to supply up to 5,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate to a US manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESSs), confirming strong market demand and the commercially viable stage of alkaLi's solution.

alkaLi offers multiple models for partners and customers.

1. Introducing EC solutions to lithium producers
2. Contract design, construction and operation of integrated systems for partners
3. Lithium production and sales from alkaLi owned assets

"We have acquired a fully operational lithium production asset in the United States that proves EC² is a reality," said Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of Gradiant. "This is not a concept, but an actual operating facility that shows that clean, domestically produced lithium is real and scalable. Our goal is not to compete with our customers, but to help them and various industries meet the surging demand for battery-quality lithium and accelerate the transition to clean energy. This strategic investment in the Marcellus Shale formation, which could supply 50% of the lithium needs of the United States, validates the maturity of alkaLi's technology and ensures long-term domestic supply."

alkaLi's patented EC² process combines direct lithium extraction (DLE), concentration and final conversion in a single efficient system. Compared to traditional approaches, EC² offers the following advantages:

• Reduce capital and operational costs by up to 50%
• Modular, pre-engineered systems for rapid global deployment
• AI-optimized performance for real-time control and predictive maintenance
• Reduces environmental impact and simplifies permit procedures
• Flexibility to accommodate a variety of water sources including geothermal brine, battery recycling and water reuse

Gradiant invites prospective customers, partners and investors to contact alkaLi to explore how this innovative platform can accelerate the global clean energy transition.

About alkaLi

alkaLi is shaping the future of critical minerals recovery to support the clean energy transition. A spin-out from Gradiant and headquartered in Boston, alkaLi combines deep expertise in advanced water and wastewater treatment with innovation in next-generation mineral extraction technologies. Its innovative EC² solutions enable the efficient, sustainable and cost-effective production of battery-quality lithium and other critical elements. Backed by significant investments and proven results, alkaLi is leading the innovation of critical minerals supply for a sustainable future. Learn more at alkaLi3.com .

About Gradient

Gradiant is not a traditional water treatment company. The company offers a unique and differentiated end-to-end suite of solutions from leading experts in water and wastewater treatment to support mission-critical operations in the world's most important industries, including semiconductor, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, lithium & critical minerals, and renewable energy. Gradiant's innovative solutions reduce water use, minimize wastewater discharges, recover valuable resources, and desalinize wastewater. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant employs more than 1,400 people worldwide. For more information, visit gradiant.com .

The official version of this press release is the original language version. The translated language versions are provided for the convenience of readers and have no legal effect. When using the translated version as a reference, please refer to the original language version, which is the only version that has legal effect.

Contacts
Corporate Contact
Felix Wang
Gradiant, Global Head of Brand
fwang@gradiant.com

 

Source: businesswire.com

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