Lithium Extraction
from Oilfield Brine
Oilfield-produced water contains significant concentrations of dissolved lithium — a critical mineral essential to lithium-ion battery manufacturing. We are developing a selective extraction process using Deep Eutectic Solvents to recover battery-grade lithium from brine co-produced during oil and gas operations.
Lithium in Oilfield-Produced Water
Billions of barrels of produced water are generated annually by oil and gas operations across North America. This water, typically managed as a waste stream, contains measurable lithium concentrations that represent an untapped domestic supply of a strategic critical mineral.
Recovering lithium from produced water converts a disposal liability into a revenue-generating byproduct — without new mining infrastructure or land disturbance.
- Lithium concentrations of 50–500 mg/L reported in major U.S. basins
- Permian, Marcellus, and Appalachian basins identified as high-potential sources
- Co-produced water volumes exceed billions of barrels per year nationally
- No new surface disturbance or mining required
Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction Process
Our process uses Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) — tunable, low-toxicity solvent systems — to selectively extract lithium ions from high-salinity produced water. DES-based extraction offers advantages over conventional ion exchange and evaporation methods in terms of selectivity, cost, and environmental profile.
- Selective lithium extraction from complex brine matrices
- Low-toxicity, biodegradable solvent systems
- Operable at ambient temperature and pressure
- Compatible with existing produced water infrastructure
- Solvent regeneration and recycling integrated into process
Target Extraction Performance
Our process targets battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium chloride output suitable for direct use in cathode material manufacturing.
Applications of Recovered Lithium
Lithium recovered from oilfield brine is suitable for integration into established battery material supply chains with minimal additional processing.
Produced Water and Supply Chain Partners
We are seeking partnerships across the oil and gas, water management, and battery materials supply chain to advance pilot-scale extraction and offtake agreements.
- Oil and gas operators with high-volume produced water streams
- Produced water treatment and disposal companies
- Lithium carbonate and battery material buyers
- Critical mineral investors and project developers
- Environmental compliance and water management firms
Oilfield Brine Lithium Screening
Sterling Analytical offers produced water and brine characterization services to evaluate lithium concentration and extraction feasibility. Our in-house ICP-OES instrumentation provides accurate multi-element analysis of brine samples from any basin.
- Lithium quantification by ICP-OES
- Full brine matrix characterization (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr)
- Competing ion profiling for selectivity assessment
- Total dissolved solids and salinity analysis
- Feasibility reporting for extraction process design
Research on DES-Based Lithium Extraction
Our research program focuses on optimizing solvent composition, extraction kinetics, and process integration for oilfield brine lithium recovery.
- DES formulation and lithium selectivity optimization
- Extraction kinetics in high-salinity brine matrices
- Solvent regeneration efficiency and cycle stability
- Impurity rejection and product purity pathways
- Techno-economic modeling for commercial scale-up
Domestic Lithium from Produced Water
We are building a scalable, low-capital lithium recovery platform targeting the growing domestic critical mineral supply gap for EV and grid storage markets.
- Abundant, low-cost feedstock from existing oilfield operations
- No mining permits or land acquisition required
- Modular unit design for rapid deployment
- Target lithium carbonate cost: $4–6/kg
- Strong alignment with domestic critical mineral policy
In-House Brine and Water Analytical Services
Sterling Analytical's laboratory supports every stage of the brine lithium extraction workflow — from initial resource screening to process validation and product quality verification.
- ICP-OES multi-element brine analysis
- Lithium carbonate and lithium chloride purity testing
- Produced water characterization and TDS measurement
- Process stream monitoring during extraction trials
- Custom analytical protocols for non-standard brine matrices
Get in Touch
For brine testing, research collaboration, partnerships, or investment inquiries.
