Lithium recovery and brine treatment

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE): Fast, Efficient and Sustainable Lithium recovery

Industrial demand for lithium continues to increase as its role in electric mobility and energy‑storage technologies expands. Traditional evaporation‑pond extraction, widely used in salar region (salt‑flat regions containing mineral‑rich brines), is increasingly constrained by long processing cycles, high water consumption, and large land requirements. These limitations have driven the development and adoption of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE): a set of selective extraction processes designed to recover lithium efficiently from a variety of natural and industrial brines. DLE is also now increasingly recognized as a practical pathway to expand global lithium supply while reducing environmental impact.

Principles of Direct Lithium Extraction

DLE technologies selectively capture lithium ions from brine using engineered materials such as sorbents, ion‑exchange resins, membranes, or solvent‑extraction phases. The process allows operators to separate lithium from competing ions including sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Once captured, lithium is released (eluted) into a clean solution and further purified into battery‑grade compounds. Because the process does not rely on natural evaporation, extraction can take place within hours or days, even in regions lacking conditions required for evaporation ponds.

Why industries are adopting DLE

• Faster production cycles

Evaporation ponds may require more than a year to achieve sufficient lithium concentration, while DLE enables rapid extraction using selective chemistry. This improves production planning, reduces exposure to climate variability, and supports reliable output for battery supply chains.

• Adaptability to diverse brine sources

DLE can be applied to:

• Salar brines, traditionally used in evaporation systems
• Geothermal brines, allowing co‑production with geothermal heat or power
• Oilfield produced streams, following adapted pretreatment for hydrocarbons and high dissolved solids

This flexibility expands the number of viable lithium resources and increases regional production potential.

• Alignment with industry and government strategies

Lithium producing countries actively support DLE to modernize lithium production and reduce land and water use compared to older extraction methods. Significant global investment since 2020 reflects growing confidence in DLE as a scalable industrial approach.

Below is an overview of DLE process vs evaporation ponds, excluding potential energy consumption:

Environmental advantages

• Reduced water consumption

Because evaporation is eliminated, DLE significantly lowers water use — an important factor in arid regions where brine extraction often competes with local water demands.

• Smaller land footprint

DLE systems require compact process units rather than widespread pond infrastructure, reducing impact on landscapes and sensitive ecosystems.

• Closed‑loop brine management

Many installations reinject processed brine after lithium removal, enabling circular water use and minimizing alteration of natural brine reservoirs.

• Improved purification efficiency

Higher selectivity reduces chemical consumption during downstream purification and supports the efficient production of high‑purity lithium compounds.

Applications across brine types

• Salar regions

DLE can replace or complement traditional evaporation ponds, improving recovery rates and enabling production even where climatic conditions are not optimal. Government‑supported deployment in several South American salars illustrates this transition.

• Geothermal operations

Geothermal brines often contain dissolved lithium. Integrating DLE allows operators to extract lithium alongside renewable energy generation, reducing overall environmental footprint.

• Oil & gas fields

Produced waters from oil and gas extraction can contain valuable lithium concentrations. DLE and post-DLE treatments paired with pretreatment steps such as oil‑water separation and clarification makes recovery possible in these chemically complex streams.

How Lenntech supports DLE projects

Lenntech specializes in post‑DLE treatment solutions, with a strong focus on ion‑exchange (IEX) and membrane‑based technologies, supporting the separation and conditioning of lithium from already clarified and conditioned brines.

Lenntech offers:

• Brine characterization and post‑DLE concept assessment, including laboratory testing to evaluate lithium separation and polishing requirements
• Design of post‑DLE treatment systems, including multimedia filtration (MMF), ion‑exchange, ultrafiltration (UF), electrodialysis (ED / EDR), nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) where applicable
• System piloting and validation to define operating parameters and optimize combinations of membrane and IEX technologies for specific lithium‑rich brines
• Integration of IEX and membrane technologies downstream of core DLE units to improve lithium selectivity, stability, and product quality
• Modular and scalable post‑DLE treatment units, suitable for high‑salinity environments and integration into existing DLE process lines
• Water and brine management solutions, supporting recirculation, reuse, or reinjection strategies after lithium separation

Lenntech supports DLE projects by engineering, supplying, and commissioning post‑DLE treatment systems, providing solutions that complement primary lithium extraction technologies and help operators achieve consistent, efficient, and sustainable lithium recovery.

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