Aquatech lithium extraction technology acquisition reshapes North American DLE landscape

Aquatech

Aquatech lithium extraction technology is moving centre-stage after the company acquired Koch Technology Solutions' DLE business. The Aquatech lithium extraction technology acquisition includes core intellectual property and the Lithium Selective Sorption (LSS) platform. As a result, Aquatech lithium extraction technology now anchors a full end-to-end flowsheet for brine-to-battery lithium materials.

Aquatech lithium extraction technology now spans full brine-to-battery flowsheets

Aquatech acquired Koch Technology Solutions’ direct lithium extraction business, including all associated intellectual property. The deal transfers every current LSS-based project, along with licences, agreements and performance guarantees. However, financial terms remain undisclosed, reflecting competitive sensitivity in the emerging DLE space.

The LSS technology targets selective lithium recovery from complex brines, improving yields and reducing impurities. Therefore, Aquatech can integrate front-end extraction with its existing strengths in water treatment and process systems. This combination positions Aquatech lithium extraction technology as a modular platform for new projects worldwide.

Aquatech now markets a full lithium processing flowsheet, from extraction and purification to refining and high-purity products. That end-to-end scope will matter for project developers and financiers seeking single-partner risk allocation. It also supports standardisation of designs across different brine chemistries and regulatory environments.

Smackover Lithium deal showcases commercial scale ambitions

A flagship reference for the LSS platform is Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas project. Under the transferred agreement, LSS technology underpins plans to produce 22,500 t/yr of lithium carbonate from 2028. This project gives Aquatech an important commercial-scale showcase in the competitive Smackover brine province.

Meanwhile, the acquisition consolidates scattered DLE know-how into a more integrated offering. Project sponsors increasingly want proven technology partners with delivery track records and bankable guarantees. As developers move from pilots to commercial plants, Aquatech lithium extraction technology will be judged on uptime, recoveries and operating costs.

The deal also underscores the growing convergence between water treatment and mineral processing. DLE projects require complex brine management, reinjection and environmental control. Aquatech’s legacy water and process technology business provides an operational bridge between these domains.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Aquatech’s move shows that DLE is no longer a niche R&D theme but a contested industrial platform. By absorbing KTS’ LSS portfolio, Aquatech becomes a more credible partner for Smackover and other brine developers seeking bankable flowsheets. The next test will be whether early projects can deliver nameplate volumes on time and at competitive unit costs.

EnergyX Smackover lithium acquisition secures 35,000 acres for brine growth

EnergyX

EnergyX Smackover lithium acquisition expands its Arkansas brine position. EnergyX Smackover lithium acquisition adds Daytona Lithium’s 35,000 gross acres. The EnergyX Smackover lithium acquisition lifts the total footprint near 50,000 acres.

Deal terms and acreage expansion

EnergyX will acquire Daytona Lithium for A$40 million, or about $26 million. The package includes A$6 million cash and A$34 million stock. The new acreage sits beside Exxon, Chevron, and Standard Lithium. Proximity may speed data sharing, services access, and infrastructure tie-ins.

Integration strategy and project timeline

EnergyX plans vertical integration using proprietary direct lithium extraction technology. The strategy targets lower costs and faster commercialization in brines. Project Lonestar aims for 50,000 t/y lithium hydroxide by 2030. The initial phase plans 12,500 t/y by 2028. The combined Arkansas and Texas assets support phased scaling and financing clarity.

The Metalnomist Commentary

EnergyX is buying optionality while locking future feed for its hydroxide plans. Success rests on DLE performance, brine chemistry, and midstream partnerships. Watch pilot recoveries, power contracts, and offtake progress through 2028.

US Targets 1 Million Tons of Lithium Production by 2035, Says DoE

Department of Energy (DOE)

The US Department of Energy (DoE) projects that the country could produce 1 million metric tons (t) of battery-grade lithium by 2035. This output would be sufficient to meet domestic demand while allowing for exports to trading partners.

Scaling Up Domestic Lithium Production

The DoE's Loan Programs Office Director, Jigar Shah, emphasized the need to expand lithium extraction, processing, and recycling to support the growing lithium-ion battery industry. He noted that diverse lithium resources across multiple US regions could be unlocked using advanced technology and infrastructure investments.

The US plans to increase lithium supply through three key sources:

• Spodumene deposits in Charlotte, North Carolina, expected to produce 100,000-150,000 t/yr of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
• Albemarle’s Kings Mountain mine is one of the most advanced spodumene projects, projected to yield 50,000 t/yr of LCE.

• Brine and clay resources in Nevada, California's Imperial Valley, and the Arkansas Smackover Formation, estimated to contribute 500,000-1 million t/yr of LCE.
• These resources have lower lithium concentrations than South American reserves, but direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology can help process them efficiently.
• Recycling of end-of-life EV batteries, which could reduce the need for new lithium extraction, supplying 50,000-100,000 t/yr of LCE by 2035.

Government Investment in Lithium Infrastructure

The Biden administration has significantly increased investments in US lithium production to accelerate the clean energy transition.

In September 2024, the DoE selected 25 projects across 14 states, committing over $3 billion to expand domestic lithium supply. Additionally, the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, operated by Lithium Americas, received a $2.3 billion loan to build a 40,000 t/yr lithium carbonate facility.

In December 2024, the DoE also allocated $17 million to 14 critical mineral technology projects, reinforcing efforts to scale up lithium production.

Lithium’s Role in the US Energy Transition

According to the US Geological Survey, the US has 1.1 million tons of lithium reserves, compared to a global total of 28 million tons.

Shah highlighted that advancements in direct lithium extraction (DLE) could rapidly unlock large lithium resources, much like hydraulic fracturing transformed the oil and gas industry.

With global lithium demand rising, the US is positioning itself as a key player in the lithium supply chain, reducing dependence on foreign imports and strengthening the clean energy sector.

Standard Lithium Launches Pilot DLE Plant in Arkansas

Standard Lithium

Standard Lithium, a U.S.-based lithium developer, has officially commenced operations at its pilot direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant in southern Arkansas, targeting lithium recovery from brine within the Smackover Formation. This marks a significant step toward scaling domestic lithium production for the battery supply chain.

The pilot plant, which will operate until late January 2025, aims to produce 1,000 US gallons (USG) of 6% lithium chloride solution. The extracted lithium will be supplied to three lithium carbonate equipment vendors, who will process approximately 30kg of battery-grade lithium carbonate for initial qualification testing with potential offtake partners.

Joint Venture with Equinor to Boost Lithium Development

This pilot facility is part of Standard Lithium's South West Arkansas (SWA) project, which operates as a joint venture with Equinor, the Norwegian state-controlled energy company. The collaboration seeks to expand lithium extraction capabilities using DLE technology, which is regarded as a more sustainable alternative to conventional lithium mining methods.

The move aligns with growing U.S. efforts to secure a domestic lithium supply, reducing reliance on foreign sources and supporting the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage markets.

Volt Lithium to Test Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Technology in North Dakota’s Bakken Formation

Wellspring Hydro

Volt Lithium, a U.S.-based lithium developer, is set to pioneer the use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology in North Dakota’s Bakken formation, an oil-rich region known for its high production of lithium-bearing brines. In partnership with Wellspring Hydro, a wastewater recycler, Volt will deploy an advanced system that directly extracts lithium from oilfield brines, marking a significant step in meeting the growing demand for lithium, particularly in the electric vehicle and energy storage markets.

Collaborative Effort for Lithium Extraction

Volt Lithium’s new initiative aims to utilize the cutting-edge DLE technology to purify, extract, and refine lithium from brines extracted from the Bakken formation. The region is the second-largest source of brine production in the U.S., yielding around 2 million barrels per day (b/d) of lithium-bearing oilfield brine, according to Wellspring. Although the exact lithium concentration in the brine is not disclosed, the project presents an exciting opportunity to tap into this resource using a more sustainable and efficient method compared to traditional mining techniques.

The collaboration between Volt Lithium and Wellspring Hydro will be funded by an initial grant of $500,000, with the potential for up to $2 million in additional funding from the state of North Dakota. Volt plans to begin deploying a field study unit in early 2025 to assess the viability of the technology in the Bakken formation.

Direct Lithium Extraction: A Game Changer for Lithium Mining

Unlike conventional evaporation ponds, which require large amounts of land and water, DLE offers a much more efficient method for extracting lithium. This method is capable of higher recovery rates, as it selectively isolates lithium from brines, reducing the environmental footprint of extraction. However, DLE technology remains more expensive and complex, which has led to its gradual development and deployment. Still, its potential has drawn the interest of major oil companies such as ExxonMobil, which is also exploring the extraction of lithium from brine in the Smackover formation in Arkansas.

Volt’s efforts in North Dakota align with the broader trend of integrating advanced technologies into the lithium mining industry, responding to the growing demand driven by the global shift to renewable energy and the rise of electric vehicle production. The success of DLE could significantly reshape the economic landscape of lithium production, especially in the U.S.