Lilac,Solutions is structured around delivering unique materials for improved lithium extraction creating a secure and sustainable lithium supply chain: design, build, and operate lithium extraction systems globally. Partnering with top engineering firms to provide infrastructure, utilities, and other process equipment, the firm's approach is to manufacture lithium-absorbent beads for sale to lithium producers. While supplies of Lithium required to sustain use of battery power, given their location and challenges involved in extraction, the challenges are how to do that efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner. Current methodologies are both highly toxic and take a very long time - measured in years. Anchored in related work undertaken at NorthWestern and involving ongoing collaboration with North Western entities and people, Lilac management are tackling ways whereby to addess the range of these issues. The approach involves forming the extracted materials into beads that are loaded into a large water tank: an ion-exchange column. As the lithium-rich brine is pumped into the tank and filtered through the beads, the material selectively absorbs the lithium. Finally, acid is added the tank, and the lithium is released and collected. Lab-scale testing of solid-state lithium batteries currently requires use of approximately 25 times more lithium than traditional lithium-ion technology. While those working in the space suggest that required volume will be significantly reduced, the importance of lithium for the future of battery technology is underscored.
