CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight
Innovation
Mechanochemical process to extract >85% of Lithium available in domestic hard-rock ore diversifying lithium supplies.
Achievement
CMI graduate student Adi Mussin, Colorado School of Mines, received the Best Poster Presentation Award at the CMI 2026 Winter Meeting.
Significance and Impact
Adi Mussin presented the MELLT (Mechanochemical Extraction of Lithium at Low Temperatures) process and highlighted scale‑up results demonstrating 2 kg batch operation with ~80% lithium extraction directly from α‑spodumene, eliminating the energy‑intensive decrepitation step and operating at room temperature, a substantially milder condition than conventional high‑temperature methods.
Hub Target Addressed
Recovery or purification processes to expand U.S. lithium production.
