Gradiant launches first full-scale lithium facility from produced water, pioneering domestic, sustainable battery-grade lithium supply via alkaLi鈥檚 EC虏 platform.
Gradiant, a global leader in advanced water and resource recovery solutions, has announced the launch of the world鈥檚 first fully integrated lithium production facility utilizing oilfield produced water. Operated under its lithium-focused subsidiary, alkaLi, this groundbreaking facility is located in the Marcellus Shale Formation in Pennsylvania. It marks a significant milestone as the first commercial site to implement alkaLi鈥檚 proprietary EC虏 (Extract, Concentrate, Convert) platform in a complete, end-to-end lithium production process.
The EC虏 system, introduced last year, is engineered to recover at least 95% of lithium at customer locations. It allows producers to obtain battery-grade lithium carbonate with greater speed, lower costs, and enhanced sustainability. The Pennsylvania site is fully owned and operated by alkaLi, encompassing equipment, land, water and mineral rights, and all necessary permits. This vertically integrated model bypasses many traditional project delays, helping to secure a long-term U.S. lithium supply.
Currently undergoing testing, the facility has already exceeded initial performance goals鈥攄emonstrating 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Full-scale commercial production is expected to begin by early 2026.
In a major commercial milestone, alkaLi has secured a multi-year offtake agreement with a U.S.-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The agreement entails supplying up to 5,000 metric tonnes annually of battery-grade lithium carbonate for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS), highlighting both market demand and the maturity of the alkaLi platform.
alkaLi offers flexible engagement models:
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Licensing the EC虏 system to lithium producers
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Designing, building, and operating customized integrated systems
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Producing and selling lithium directly from alkaLi-owned facilities
CEO Anurag Bajpayee emphasized the significance of this achievement: 鈥淲e now have a fully operational lithium asset in the U.S. proving that EC虏 is not just a concept鈥攊t鈥檚 reality. Our intention is to enable the broader industry to meet surging demand for battery-grade lithium and support the clean energy transition.鈥�
The EC虏 process represents a technological leap in lithium production by combining Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), concentration, and conversion in one seamless workflow. Compared to traditional methods, EC虏 offers:
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Up to 50% lower capital and operating costs
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Modular, pre-engineered systems for scalable global deployment
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 AI-driven optimization for real-time control and predictive maintenance
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Reduced environmental impact and simpler permitting
鈥�听听听听听听听听听听听听 Compatibility with diverse feedwater sources, including geothermal brine and recycled materials
Gradiant and alkaLi are inviting collaboration from customers, investors, and partners to scale this innovation and drive the clean energy revolution forward.
