Mo Alkhadra, a researcher at MIT, spent years figuring out how to remove troublesome materials like toxic lead and radioactive waste from water. However, as he progressed in his doctorate studies, he realized that if he wanted to bring his technology to market, he’d need to do something other than build a better Brita.
"We ended up talking to large corporates that had interest in that domain," Alkhadra told TechCrunch. But, he added, "I had been warned to some extent by investors and other stakeholders in the industry that it would be a very challenging space to pursue from a business standpoint."
A Change of Focus
So instead, Alkhadra changed his focus. Rather than trying to deliver clean water and discard undesired contaminants, he’d recover valuable minerals locked in water from reservoirs deep underground. Alkhadra’s startup, Lithios, is starting with lithium, a critical mineral that’s in high demand as the automotive industry transitions to electric vehicles.
Today, most lithium is either mined or captured by evaporating briny water on vast salt flats, most of which are in Andean South America. But extracting lithium in those ways is expensive, slow, and geographically limited.
A Fresh Crop of Startups
In response, a fresh crop of startups is trying to meet the booming demand for lithium, particularly lithium that can be mined from sustainable sources. In addition to Lithios, companies like Lilac Solutions and EnergyX are all rushing to become the go-to lithium source for automakers and battery manufacturers. They all extract lithium from briny water drawn from below the Earth’s surface, though they tackle the problem of separating metal from water in different ways.
Lithios’ Approach
Lithios’ approach is similar to the way that lithium-ion batteries work. Inside one, lithium ions are nestled inside the anodes, where they are stored like books on a shelf. As the battery charges or discharges, those ions flow back and forth between the two terminals, each time nestling themselves in the nooks of the anode.
Lithios uses a similar process to extract lithium from briny water. The company’s technology is designed to mimic the natural process that occurs when plants absorb minerals from the soil. By using this approach, Lithios can recover high-purity lithium without having to resort to expensive and energy-intensive methods like electrolysis.
A New Business Model
Lithios’ business model is also innovative. The company plans to offer its technology as a service, allowing customers to access clean water and valuable minerals without having to invest in the underlying infrastructure. This approach could revolutionize the way that companies operate in industries that rely heavily on lithium, such as electric vehicle manufacturing.
A Bright Future Ahead
Lithios has already made significant progress since its founding just a few years ago. The company has secured funding from top venture capital firms and has partnered with leading industry players to test its technology.
As the demand for lithium continues to grow, companies like Lithios are poised to play a critical role in meeting that demand. With their innovative approach to extracting lithium from briny water, these startups could help to transform the way that we produce clean energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
The Future of Electric Vehicles
As the world transitions to electric vehicles, the demand for lithium is expected to skyrocket. In fact, some estimates suggest that lithium demand will increase by as much as 20 times in the next few decades.
Lithios’ technology has the potential to help meet this growing demand while also reducing the environmental impact of lithium production. By recovering high-purity lithium from briny water, Lithios can help to minimize waste and reduce the need for expensive and energy-intensive methods like electrolysis.
Conclusion
Lithios is a game-changer in the world of electric vehicles. With its innovative approach to extracting lithium from briny water, this startup has the potential to revolutionize the way that we produce clean energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
As the demand for lithium continues to grow, companies like Lithios are poised to play a critical role in meeting that demand. With their cutting-edge technology and innovative business model, these startups could help to transform the way that we operate in industries that rely heavily on lithium.
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About the Author
Mo Alkhadra is a researcher at MIT, where he spent years figuring out how to remove troublesome materials like toxic lead and radioactive waste from water. He founded Lithios to recover valuable minerals locked in water from reservoirs deep underground.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of TechCrunch or its partners.
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