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Lithium Selective Nanofiltration Membranes

Lithium selective nanofiltration

Selective membranes for lithium-rich brines.

GREENVI™ is developing lithium selective nanofiltration membranes designed to improve lithium recovery from complex brine streams by separating lithium ions from competing ions such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

GREENVI membrane rolls and spiral-wound elements Membrane rolls
GREENVI membrane testing and fabrication equipment Testing equipment
GREENVI membrane module cleanroom manufacturing line Scale-up line
The challenge

Magnesium-lithium separation limits recovery.

Lithium-rich brines often contain high concentrations of magnesium and calcium. Separating magnesium from lithium is difficult because magnesium and lithium have similar hydrated ion sizes, especially in brines with high Mg2+/Li+ ratios.

Technology objective

The platform is designed to preferentially reject divalent ions such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ while supporting Li+ passage for downstream lithium concentration, purification, and polishing.

Our technology

Thin-film composite NF for selective ion separation.

The membrane combines a mechanically stable support layer with an engineered selective surface tailored to improve separation between lithium and competing ions. GREENVI™ has filed Canadian and U.S. patent applications covering the technology and related fabrication methods.

GREENVI membrane rolls and spiral-wound elements Membrane roll materials

Why it matters

By reducing magnesium and calcium impurities while maintaining lithium-rich permeate streams, the platform can help improve downstream lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide production efficiency.

Performance highlights

Designed for lithium recovery workflows.

Performance areaDevelopment focus
Magnesium rejectionUp to approximately 90% or higher in selected brine tests.
Lithium passageLow lithium rejection, supporting lithium transport through the membrane.
Water permeabilityPractical permeability for nanofiltration-based brine processing.
Mixed salt separationStrong separation between Mg2+ and Li+ in mixed salt solutions.
StabilityStable flux and ion separation performance over long-term filtration tests.
Simulated brine testingEvaluated with complex brines containing lithium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfate ions.
Validation environment

Membrane materials, testing hardware, and module scale-up.

GREENVI membrane rolls and spiral-wound elements Selective membrane rolls
GREENVI membrane testing and fabrication equipment Testing and controls
GREENVI spiral-wound membrane module manufacturing equipment Module fabrication equipment
GREENVI membrane module cleanroom manufacturing line Manufacturing line
GREENVI reverse osmosis membrane element Module format
Applications

Critical mineral separations with a cleaner footprint.

Brines

Lithium brine processing

Selective separation of lithium from brines containing magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

DLE

Direct lithium extraction polishing

A complementary polishing step after DLE to remove residual divalent ions and improve purity.

Recycling

Battery recycling streams

Selective membrane separation for lithium recovery from battery waste or recycling processes.

Industrial

Lithium-containing effluents

Treatment and recovery from industrial wastewater streams.

Pre-concentration

Purification before conversion

Improve downstream lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide production efficiency.

Scale-up

Partner validation

Application-specific testing with representative brine composition and separation targets.

Test lithium selectivity with your brine.

GREENVI™ is exploring partnerships with lithium producers, DLE companies, battery recycling companies, research organizations, and industrial partners interested in membrane validation.

Contact GREENVI™
Membrane systems for water, energy, and industrial process streams

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