University of Birmingham leads £6.2m project on lithium-separating protein membranes

A £6.2 million research project led by the University of Birmingham and Aston University is developing engineered protein membranes to separate lithium from sodium. This technology aims to address a critical challenge in producing high-purity lithium compounds required for battery manufacturing.

Funded by the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), the three-year initiative utilizes S-layer proteins, which naturally form highly ordered two-dimensional lattices on microorganisms. Researchers intend to modify these proteins to create programmable pores as small as 1 ångström, allowing for the precise distinction between lithium and sodium ions despite their similar chemical properties.

The project involves a consortium of industrial partners, including Fold9, which will lead AI-guided protein design; Evove, focusing on membrane manufacturing and scale-up; and Adaptyv Bio, providing high-throughput screening. The long-term goal is to establish a manufacturing platform for highly selective separation materials through ARIA’s Universal Fabricators programme.