Massachusetts-based water treatment solutions company Gradient said its lithium subsidiary AlkaLi will build and operate a commercial production facility in Marcellus Shale, Pennsylvania, on 24 June.
The site will be the first of its kind to use AlkaLi's EC² platform to extract, concentrate and convert lithium in a fully integrated, end-to-end process from oilfield produced water, the company said.
This announcement builds on the launch of AlkaLi's EC² platform last year, which has demonstrated 97pc lithium recovery and 99.5pc purity for battery-grade lithium carbonate. AlkaLi expects full commercial operations to begin by early 2026.
AlkaLi has secured a multi-year offtake agreement to supply up to 5,000 metric tonnes annually to a US lithium-ion battery manufacturer for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
The vertically integrated model includes ownership of land, water, mineral rights, and permits, streamlining development and securing domestic supply. EC² also offers up to 50pc lower capital and operating expenditures compared to conventional methods.
