Australia develops waterless technology to extract lithium from mining waste

ElectraLith, a startup from the Monash University ecosystem, is developing a new technology to extract and refine lithium from mining waste fluids. The process aims to transform industrial waste into a strategic resource for the battery industry using electricity, without the need for additional water or auxiliary chemicals.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided approximately $2.9 million in funding to support a pilot project. This initiative seeks to demonstrate that high-purity lithium can be recovered from liquid flows in mining operations and industrial processes, potentially providing a sustainable source of material for electric vehicle batteries.