Enhancing and Diversifying Supply Research Highlights

Lithium extraction from minerals: techno-economic analysis (TEA)

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Cost breakdown comparison showing Vacuum-Induced Thermal Extraction of Lithium from α-Spodumene (VITELiS) reduces non-feedstock processing costs relative to conventional Sulfuric Acid Roasting (SAR).

Comparative LCA of germanium production from unconventional sources using chlorinated distillation and solvent extraction

CMI researchers at Missouri S&T conducted the research for this highlight

Solvent Extraction: Individual Material/Energy Burden Contribution for Selected Impact Categories

Enhanced REE separations using dual neutral extractant approach

CMI researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Post‑baccalaureate fellow Dex Altavilla displays the HREE‑loaded organic product (left) and the LREE aqueous concentrate (right) produced during the centrifugal contactor run.

Unlocking cobalt from cobaltiferous pyrite by inert roasting

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines conducted the research for this highlight

Backscatter image from SEM (left) and AMICS (right) segmented map of decomposed samples after 15 min at 650 C and 33 STD mL/min.

Engaging young minds to recover critical materials

CMI researchers at Missouri S&T conducted the research for this highlight

CMI-Sponsored Senior Design Team at Missouri S&T – Travis Young, Andrew Budd, Chase Schroeder, Benjamin Rodrigue (left to right)

High‑efficiency kg‑scale spodumene activation for Li recovery

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Infographic showing the VITELiS approach for Li-extraction from α-spodumene.

CMI STEM research intern advances solar panel recycling

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Chinenye Eze presenting a poster during the CMI Annual Meeting at INL, August 2025. Photo Credit: Arindam Mukhopadhyay & Ruby Nguyen

REE recovery and purification from phosphogypsum leachate

CMI researchers at the Florida Industrial & Phosphate Research Institute (FIPR) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Bank of centrifugal contactors used for the flowsheet demonstration at PNNL

Two CMI lithium extraction technologies selected for 2026 TechConnect Pitch Panel

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Two CMI technologies, MELLT and VITELiS, were selected for the Pitch Panel during the TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo, held in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 10-12, 2026.

2025 CMI Intern receives Best Poster Presenter Award

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

2025 CMI Intern Ernest Konadu-Yiadom, Colorado School of Mines, won the Best Poster Award at the Innovation in Critical Minerals and Materials Symposium at TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo, held in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 10-12, 2026. He is shown centered between two of the symposium co-chairs Alison Fritz, National Energy Technology Laboratory, and Santa Jansone-Popova, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.