Technology
Watercycle’s core technology is based on the design of membrane distillation crystallization mineral extraction systems and components within it.
Watercycle is developing end to end systems for lithium production from brine/lithium ion spent batteries including:
: Selective Extraction
: Polishing
: Concentration
: Crystallisation
Additionally, the Company’s technology is being utilised for battery recycling and can recover a high percentage of lithium and other minerals that exist in spent batteries, whilst delivering valuable by-products to ensure zero-waste. Operating after the sorting and shredding phase in the leaching and refining stage of the process, it can take mixed black mass and apply a chemical extraction process to recover lithium. Once extracted, it can then crystallise the lithium solution into a high value salt.
DLEC Process
Now
Metals and minerals are a critical part of the solutions to stop climate change.
Lithium as well as other high-value metals and minerals are essential for the electrification of the automotive industry.
However, the current extraction, processing and recovery methods are expensive, inefficient and polluting.
Future
Using our patented membrane technology, our solutions extract lithium, minerals and other metals from diverse water sources including groundwater, industrial, municipal, agricultural wastewater and seawater.
Our system targets mineral recovery rates of >95% and can achieve complete conversion of the water source to drinking-quality water if required.
The solution enables customers to reduce their energy and water consumption, eliminate liquid waste streams and increase product recovery. With a modular design and small footprint, our systems require minimal pre-treatment and minimal installation time, enabling rapid deployment in any environment.
Water
Naturally occurring water supplies are becoming increasingly depleted around the world and there is a clear need for water purification technology.
An estimated 80% of global wastewater produced is left untreated, which equates to several hundred cubic kilometres a year. Increased regulation is requiring industries to treat the wastewater they produce, providing an opportunity that the Company intends to exploit. By extracting value add commodities, the WCT systems are more attractive to situations where funding is potentially tight.
Additionally, with desalination becoming increasingly required to sustain growing coastal urbanisation, Watercycle’s low cost, energy efficient solutions represent a key step in reducing the environmental impact of such projects.
