Captura, a US-based electrochemical platform supplier, and ElectraLith, an expert in direct lithium extraction and refining, have formed a strategic partnership to commercialise ElectraLith’s DLE-R technology
As demand for lithium rises due to the electrification of transportation, energy storage, and grid infrastructure, the companies believe the partnership will accelerate deployment of lower-impact, lower-cost technologies to support the energy transition.
ElectraLith’s DLE-R technology is a clean, versatile and cost-efficient method of extracting and refining lithium. DLE-R’s proprietary electrochemical process can produce 99.5%+ pure battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate from a range of resources in a single, scalable, and modular step that eliminates the need for further refining.
ElectraLith anticipates commercial deployments across major lithium-bearing regions, including Chile, Argentina, Australia, and the United States, by 2028.
Captura’s proprietary bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) platform facilitates efficient electrochemical separation and conversion processes with lower energy consumption and capital cost than conventional BMED systems. The technology supports several steps in lithium extraction and refining, and can integrate with a range of solutions, helping producers enhance process efficiency, economics, and sustainability performance.
Under the partnership and subject to certain terms and conditions, ElectraLith will procure BMED stacks from Captura over an initial five-year period. This includes BMED stacks procured in June 2026 for two commercial-scale DLE-R pilot plants, both expected to be commissioned in early 2027. ElectraLith anticipates orders for additional BMED stacks following successful pilot operations for DLE-R’s global deployment.
Charlie McGill, CEO of ElectraLith, said, “ElectraLith’s partnership with Captura combines two industry pioneers taking on climate change, one of the greatest challenges of our generation. Captura’s BMED technology fully unlocks DLE-R’s potential to deliver the cleanest, most versatile and most cost-efficient method of extracting and refining lithium, the fundamental element of a sustainable future. It also unlocks DLE-R’s potential to support a fully domestic US lithium supply chain.”
Christene Banda, chief operating officer of Captura, said, “This partnership represents an important commercial milestone for Captura as ElectraLith becomes our first major customer for our electrodialysis platform. It validates the strength of our proprietary membrane technology and demonstrates the value of combining our teams’ complementary expertise and technologies to develop a differentiated solution for the lithium market.”
