One-Step Lithium Refining? Startup Puts Idea to the Test

ElectraLith's single-step refining tech shows promise in labs; industry awaits pilot results to test its real-world impact

6 Jul 2025

ElectraLith, a Houston firm, is testing a new way to refine lithium. Its "DLE-R" electrode is meant to capture and process the metal in one step. The idea is to replace long chemical chains and big plants with a compact unit that can sit at brine sites. For America's battery supply chain, it could be a game-changer.

The system draws on research at Rice University using solid-state membranes. Early lab work shows it may cut costs, reduce waste and allow more flexible production. But it is still at the pilot stage, and no one knows if it can last for years in harsh, real-world conditions.

Big investors are curious. Rio Tinto, Chevron Technology Ventures and In-Q-Tel have all put money in. Another firm, Mangrove Lithium, backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is working on a similar modular system. Both hope to simplify refining, which today is slow and dirty.

The government is also keen. The Department of Energy recently gave a $1.4bn loan to EnergySource Minerals for a project at California's Salton Sea, showing its support for new methods. A portable electrode system could fit neatly with those plans.

Experts remain cautious. "The concept is promising, but success depends on whether it can run reliably for years, not months," warns one.

ElectraLith does not expect to replace existing refineries. It sees its device as a complement, able to clean up other streams or stand alone in new projects. If it works, lithium refining could become smaller, cleaner and closer to where the metal is found.