Two Enhancing and Diversifying Supply projects available for licensing

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

Innovation 

  • VITELiS (Vacuum-Induced Thermal Extraction of Lithium from α-Spodumene) 
  • NEAREST (Neutral Ligand-Based REE Separation Technology)

Achievement  
CMI technologies are available for transfer to industry partners.

Significance and Impact

  • VITELiS: One-step extraction cuts processing time from 64h to 30min, lowers temperature from 1100°C to 800°C, and avoids acids, bases, and water.
  • NEAREST: Pre-grouping REEs streamlines separation, speeds phase disengagement (~1 min), and enables >95% extraction in four-stage DGA-6 processes.

Hub Target Addressed 

  • Recovery or purification processes to expand U.S. lithium production
  • Developing highly selective separation from complex sources
diagram of process for ball milling for VITELiS process
Figure: (top) Infographic showing the VITELiS approach for Li-extraction from α-spodumene; (bottom) General illustration of the two-ligand REE separation process. DOODA is a neutral tetradentate ligand soluble in aqueous media and DGA is a neutral tridentate ligand soluble in oil phase.