Closing the Loop: From Wastewater to Lithium and Hydrogen

This project explores an advanced process design to recover valuable minerals from wastewater, with a particular focus on lithium extraction from mining and battery waste, while simultaneously generating ultrapure water as a feedstock for hydrogen production.
Lithium is considered a critical raw material due to its growing importance in the energy storage sector. Therefore, recycling waste streams and improving yields in existing processes is essential. In this project, an electro-membrane technology will be applied and further improved to selectively concentrate lithium from the waste stream. In a second step, the lithium-rich solution is processed via electrodialysis separation into purified lithium carbonate and ultrapure water. Since ultrapure water is a byproduct of this process, its potential use in hydrogen production will also be explored. The project brings together two Dutch SMEs, IonIQs and Avoxt, with the Hanze University of Applied Sciences (UAS) to strengthen expertise in lithium recovery, membrane separation, and hydrogen technologies. By combining expertise, membrane characterization, and advanced analysis techniques, the project supports innovation within the partner companies and fosters knowledge. The successful implementation will contribute to reducing waste, securing access to critical raw materials, and exploring synergies between resource recovery and green energy.