Proprietary Lithium Ion Transport and Separation (LiTAS™) technology stems from metal organic frameworks (MOFs) nanoparticles capable of selectively separating monovalent ions, such as lithium, from the rest of the ions in mixtures in high salinity solutions while maintaining stability in a myriad of conditions.
No other technology has ever been able to do this.
LiTAS™ tech is the synthesis and characterization of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) comprising mixtures of polymer and MOF to retain the attractive selectivity of the MOF and the scalable and robust mechanical properties of polymers. EnergyX has designed and patented a proprietary scalable casting method to combine our metal organic framework nanoparticles with the polymers to create the mixed matrix membranes in a thin film format.
A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
Sustainability remains at the forefront of our efforts. The result of this breakthrough technology is a radically smaller footprint in lithium production, coupled with little to no fresh water usage, significantly lower CO2 emissions, and zero harmful chemicals or reagents injected back into the ground. The benefits continue when the lithium is then incorporated into battery storage to advance the implementation of renewable energy.
While current membrane technology on the market falls short in one area or another, LiTAS™ is far more effective than any other technology currently available. Methods such as reverse osmosis can separate all ions out of water but are not selective. Nanofiltration can selectively separate ions, but cannot operate in high salinity environments (over 10% salinity) without dilution with freshwater. Other processes such as ion sorption and ion exchange can’t operate at high salinity, are a batch process versus a preferred continuous process, and require high amounts of fresh water and reagents with high power consumption.
| EnergyX Membranes | Ion Sorption | Ion Exchange Resin | Nanofiltration | Reverse Osmosis | Forward Osmosis |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selectivity Li vs Na | ||||||
| Selectivity Li vs Mg2+ | ||||||
| Operates at High Salinity | ||||||
| Continuous Process | ||||||
| Adaptable Platform | ||||||
| Enviromentally Neutral | ||||||
| Low Power Consumption | ||||||
| Non- Regenerative | ||||||
| No Freshwater Required |
The failure of commercialized synthetic membranes to accomplish monovalent separations (e.g. Li+ from Na+) and monovalent / divalent separations (e.g. Li+ from Ca2+ or Mg2+) in high salinity environments has left many potential sources of lithium untapped due to the high cost of extraction. Our solution changes this, bringing new deposits into production.
We have specifically developed LiTAS™, MMMs consisting of polymers and UiO-66 based MOFs, for aqueous ion separations. Our technology selectively separates monovalent ions, such as Li+, K+, Na+, F-, and Cl-, from complex mixtures of divalents, such as Ca2+, Mg2+, SO32-, and CO32-, in high salinity environments. We developed LiTAS™ as an adaptable platform to suit the needs of various separations including monovalent / monovalent separations such as Li+ from Na+ and K+. In addition, LiTAS™ is an environmentally neutral, continuous process that requires low power consumption, no fresh water, and few reagents.
LITHIUM REFINERY
EnergyX has developed breakthrough nanotechnology membranes capable of nearly instant separation with high recovery rates. Our proprietary LiTAS™ membrane technology isolates the lithium ions from a mixture, and create a monovalent lithium rich solution.As opposed to outdated methods of lithium extraction, recovery, separation, and refinery, such as evaporation ponds.
Stringing many of our LiTAS™ modules together into a system will yield large outputs of lithium from lithium enriched brine.
ENERGY STORAGE
As renewable energy demand soars, the need for efficient, low cost, large-scale energy storage systems is also rising. Lithium batteries have been identified as a major part of the future of any renewable energy transition, and their implementation in electric mobility and projects of various scales has shown off just how versatile they can be. EnergyX is positioning itself to be a major player throughout the value chain from the production of raw materials to new solid state battery chemistries.
There are two elements in the global transition to renewable energy; generation and storage. First, the generation of electricity, which typically comes from sources such as solar or wind, is transmitted onto the grid for immediate use. However, at times when energy generation ceases, such as at night for solar or on calm days for wind, we revert to fossil fuels. Therefore, the second element to a sustainable energy future is the storage capabilities of renewable energy so that we can use solar and wind energy even when it is not sunny or windy at that exact moment. This is where lithium batteries and large scale energy storage systems come into play.
SOLID STATE BATTERY SYSTEMS
Solid state batteries are the Holy Grail of energy storage in lithium ion batteries. The fundamental reason solid state is ideal is because it maximizes the energy density of battery, while lowering the weight, and making it safer. EnergyX is working on solid state battery electrolyte technology using its core LiTAS™ nanotechnology to solve some of these problems.
During our preliminary research we have seen that lithium ions move through our metal organic framework nanoparticles at unprecedented rates of 100 Siemens per second. These results translate to extraordinary.
