Selective molecular extraction and separation of lithium and critical raw materials

SolveLi offers expertise in the development of selective molecular extraction technologies for lithium and other critical raw materials, combining supramolecular chemistry with applied separation science and process development.

Our core competencies include:

• solid–liquid extraction (SLE) and liquid–liquid extraction (LLE),

• selective recovery of lithium from complex inorganic and secondary raw-material matrices,

• molecular recognition and design of selective organic extractants,

• solvent and extraction-system optimisation,

• regeneration and recycling of extractants and organic phases,

• analytical validation of extraction selectivity and recovery,

• development of process concepts for continuous and scalable separation,

• integration of selective extraction steps with existing hydrometallurgical and recycling processes.

Our lithium separation technology is supported by peer-reviewed research published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition (DOI: 10.1002/anie.3249075), patent applications and semi-preparative validation. The underlying research was developed at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IOC PAS), with which SolveLi maintains scientific collaboration.

We are particularly interested in contributing our expertise to R&D projects involving:

• lithium and critical raw material recovery,

• battery recycling and black-mass processing,

• LFP-containing battery materials,

• secondary raw materials and industrial residues,

• solvometallurgy and advanced solvent extraction,

• selective pre-processing steps compatible with conventional downstream recycling,

• process intensification, continuous extraction and scale-up.

In collaborative projects, SolveLi can contribute selective extraction chemistry, process concepts, molecular extractants, laboratory validation and technology development. We are particularly interested in projects where our separation technology can be combined with industrial feedstocks, process-engineering capabilities and downstream recycling or refining infrastructure.