Gradiant, a global player in advanced water and resource recovery, has announced a major breakthrough in sustainable lithium production. Its lithium business unit, alkaLi, will design, build, own, and operate the world’s first end-to-end lithium production facility that extracts lithium directly from oilfield produced water. The site is located in the Marcellus Shale Formation in Pennsylvania, marking a pivotal advancement in domestic critical mineral sourcing.
End-to-End EC² Technology Now in Action
The Pennsylvania facility will be the first commercial deployment of alkaLi’s EC² (Extract, Concentrate, Convert) platform. The fully integrated system allows lithium to be recovered, concentrated, and converted into battery-grade lithium carbonate—all on-site and from a single feedstock: produced water from oilfields. Launched in 2023, EC² guarantees a minimum 95% lithium recovery, enabling producers to deliver high-purity lithium faster, more cost-effectively, and with a lower environmental impact.
A Fully Owned and Operated Asset
alkaLi has taken full control of the facility’s operations—including equipment, land, water and mineral rights, and permitting. The vertically integrated model allows Gradiant to bypass the delays commonly associated with third-party ownership and regulatory hurdles, ensuring faster deployment and long-term stability of U.S. lithium supply. The system, currently in the testing phase, has already achieved 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Full commercial operations are expected by early 2026.
Multi-Year Offtake Agreement Secures Market Demand
Demonstrating strong commercial traction, alkaLi has signed a multi-year offtake agreement to supply up to 5,000 metric tonnes annually of battery-grade lithium carbonate to a leading U.S.-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The lithium will support electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) production, reinforcing the critical role of EC² in enabling clean energy transitions.
Flexible Business Models for Industry Collaboration
alkaLi is offering multiple engagement models for partners, including:
*Deploying the EC² platform at lithium producers’ sites
*Designing, building, and operating integrated systems for partners
*Producing and selling lithium from alkaLi-owned assets
This approach enables industry-wide access to scalable lithium recovery without requiring producers to overhaul existing operations.
Driving the Clean Energy Transition
“This isn’t just a concept—it’s a live, operational facility,” said Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of Gradiant. “We’ve proven that clean, domestic lithium production is both viable and scalable. Our aim is not to compete with customers, but to empower them and accelerate the clean energy transition. The Marcellus Shale site could alone meet up to 50% of U.S. lithium demand, validating the strength and maturity of our technology.”
Advantages of the EC² Platform
As per the press release, alkaLi’s patented EC² process combines Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), concentration, and conversion in a single, compact system. Compared to traditional lithium recovery methods, EC² offers:
*Up to 50% reduction in capital and operating costs
*Modular, pre-engineered systems for rapid deployment across global sites
*AI-powered performance for real-time control and predictive maintenance
*Lower environmental impact and simplified permitting
*Feedstock flexibility, handling sources such as geothermal brines, battery recycling waste, and oilfield produced water
