Nobian launches LiSA pilot to scale circular low‑carbon lithium refining
- LiSA received a €2 million Dutch TKI Energy grant to support the pilot.
- Partners will run a three-year pilot in the Netherlands with a collective €3.6 million investment.
- The process converts lithium chloride from geothermal brines and recycled batteries into battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate using electrochemistry and salt-based crystallization.
- Nobian expects the process to use about 50% less energy and cut CO₂ emissions by around 50%, while reducing water use and waste streams.
Project overview
The LiSA consortium, initiated by Nobian with Back to Battery, the University of Twente and Demcon Suster, and coordinated by ISPT, has secured a €2 million Dutch TKI Energy grant to develop a three-year pilot in the Netherlands. Partners will invest a collective €3.6 million to test and scale a circular, low‑carbon route for lithium refining in Europe.
Technology and process
The project tests a patented process that combines electrochemistry with salt‑based crystallization to convert lithium chloride into battery‑grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. In the process, LiCl solution is combined with caustic soda and passed through two crystallization steps that separate lithium hydroxide and sodium chloride; the sodium chloride is reused in chlor‑alkali electrolyzers to regenerate caustic soda for the crystallization loop.
Expected benefits
Compared with conventional lithium refining methods, the process is expected to use about 50% less energy and reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 50%, while also being more cost‑efficient, using less water and producing fewer waste streams. The pilot will develop a pilot‑scale research facility to test different lithium feedstocks, optimize conditions and assess impurity management in recycled streams.
Strategic context
LiSA aims to integrate recycling and refining by testing lithium from geothermal sources and end‑of‑life batteries directly in the same refining route. The project seeks to strengthen Europe’s battery chemicals value chain, reduce import dependency and support a more circular battery ecosystem in the Netherlands and Europe.
Source: Nobian