Collaborative efforts are being made towards direct lithium extraction to bring integrated solutions into the market.
Leaders from Eurodia Industrie and Saint-Gobain Ceramics meet to discuss the details of their partnership. Supplied by Saint Gobain Ceramics
Saint-Gobain Ceramics, a strong force in materials and solutions for sustainable industries, and Eurodia Industrie, a process engineering specialist in liquid purification technologies, have announced their strategic partnership to provide integrated solutions for the fast-growing Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) market.
The collaboration combines Saint-Gobain Ceramics’ advanced lithium-selective adsorbent materials with Eurodia’s proprietary system engineering and process expertise, enabling an enhanced offering to DLE operators worldwide.
The goal is to accelerate the commercial deployment of high-efficiency, sustainable lithium extraction systems proven at scale that minimise environmental impact and support the global electrification and energy transition.
“Combining Saint-Gobain Ceramics’ expertise in materials science with Eurodia’s process engineering creates a powerful offering for lithium producers,” said Othman Benjelloun-Touimi, CEO of Saint-Gobain Ceramics. “Together, we’re enabling the lithium industry to achieve sustainability and performance.”
DLE is a transformative approach to sourcing lithium from brines with greater selectivity, achieving over 90% Li+ recovery versus 43% recovery via evaporation methods1,2. These systems shorten processing time, reduce direct land use and conserve aquifer water balance by reinjecting spent brine compared to conventional evaporation ponds2.
As the demand for lithium surges, driven by electric vehicles, stationary storage and grid-scale batteries, scalable, low-impact extraction methods are critical.
“Partnering with Saint-Gobain Ceramics to deliver a tailored, complete turnkey DLE solution for lithium producers is a valuable opportunity for our clients, including those who have already placed their trust in us. Our combined expertise and experience will allow us to provide full guarantees of optimal operation for DLE and will therefore help the lithium industry to move faster towards a more sustainable future, with confidence and reliability,” said Mathieu Bailly, president of Eurodia.
Saint-Gobain Ceramics’ lithium adsorbents are the result of extensive R&D in ceramics and lithium-selective materials. Engineered for high capacity, selectivity and durability, these adsorbents are optimised for repeated use in cyclic adsorption/desorption processes, a core mechanism in DLE operations.
Eurodia brings decades of experience in the design, optimisation and scaling of complex separation systems across industries such as food and beverages and those embracing the environmental and energy transition. Their approach enables a customised DLE system design, tailored to specific brine chemistries and production goals.
The partnership is already engaging with lithium project developers and technology integrators across multiple geographies, with pilot systems currently in design and deployment.
References:
- Vera, María L., et al. “Environmental impact of direct lithium extraction from brines.” Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 4.3 (2023): 149-165.
- McCartney, John. “Spent brine management for DLE processing plants in the lithium triangle of South America.” (2024)
Source: Supplied by Saint Gobain Ceramics