KBR has partnered with Neptune Energy to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) from gas field brine at the Altmark site in Germany, using KBR’s proprietary PureLi® refining and conversion technology. This marks a significant step toward strengthening Europe’s regional lithium supply chain.
Lithium Carbonate: A Core Ingredient for E-Mobility
Lithium carbonate is a critical raw material for lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles, laptops, and mobile devices. Producing this material locally and sustainably is essential to meeting growing global demand.
From Brine to Battery: A Stepwise Success
In November 2024, under KBR’s technical leadership, Neptune Energy successfully produced its first technical-grade lithium carbonate from lithium chloride (LiCl). The LiCl was extracted from brine using Geolith’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Li-Capt® technology. More recently, the LiCl has been converted into 99.5% purity lithium carbonate, meeting strict industry standards for battery production.
PureLi® Technology Drives High-Purity Output
As per the KBR press release, KBR’s PureLi® technology played a central role in refining and converting lithium chloride into battery-grade lithium carbonate. The process involved several key steps:
- Concentrating lithium chloride
- Advanced impurity removal through refining
- Crystallizing lithium carbonate
This integrated and modular process ensures high efficiency and product purity.
KBR Commits to Strengthening Energy Security
Hari Ravindran, Senior Vice President of Technology Solutions at KBR, praised the collaboration:
“Congratulations to the entire team on this important milestone! Strengthening regional lithium supply chains is critical to ensuring energy security, and KBR is proud to support this project. With our advanced PureLi technology, we are helping secure a reliable supply of high-purity lithium to meet the growing demand for e-mobility.”
Neptune Energy Recognizes KBR’s Key Role
Axel Wenke, Director of New Energy at Neptune Energy, highlighted KBR’s contribution to their pilot project:
“KBR played an important role in our first lithium pilot project in the Altmark region. Thanks to KBR’s guidance and experience in the DLE business, we were able to produce our first lithium carbonate from Altmark brine at our Lingen-based laboratory.”
