One World Lithium Expands R&D with UBC and UCI to Advance Direct Lithium Carbonation Extraction Technology

One World Lithium Inc. (CSE: OWLI) has announced a research and development collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI), alongside Moleaer Inc., to advance the company's Direct Lithium Carbonation Extraction (DLCE) technology. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of a single-step process for producing lithium carbonate from brines and clay slurries, with the ultimate goal of designing and constructing a containerized pilot plant for field testing.

The scope of work, now finalized, focuses on continued validation and optimization of the DLCE process, which utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2) nanobubbles to selectively extract lithium from brines. The first phase will involve testing at UBC and UCI labs, with nanobubble generators and additional equipment expected to be delivered within six to eight weeks. In parallel, the universities will evaluate the potential recovery of other industrial carbonates—including sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium—which could generate incremental revenue streams and improve overall project economics.

The second phase will focus on lithium clay test work, aiming to create an effective lithium slurry to validate the DLCE technology for producing lithium carbonate directly from clay slurries without requiring sulfuric acids, soda ash, sorbents, or multiple concentration steps. This approach could significantly reduce environmental impact and operational complexity compared to traditional methods.

At UBC, the research will be led by Dr. Alex Tavasoli, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Laboratory of Future Industry (LoFI). Her group specializes in designing, optimizing, and scaling novel sustainable industrial processes. At UCI, Dr. James Earthman, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, will oversee the testing. Dr. Earthman has extensive experience in nanobubble technology and is an inventor on 16 issued U.S. patents.

Doug Fulcher, President and CEO of One World Lithium, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have such a talented team working with us in advancing OWL’s DLCE technology. We believe that under the direct supervision of Dr. Earthman with his background in research and management of materials using nanobubbles and Dr. Tavasoli’s background in chemical engineering and industrial production processing and alongside the expertise of Moleaer’s nanobubble team we are in a position to fast track our DLCE process for lithium and other critical mineral extraction from brine and complete the construction of a container size test plant in a timely manner.”

The DLCE process aims to produce lithium carbonate directly in a single step, unlike traditional methods that require multiple stages and extensive chemical inputs. By integrating CO2 into the separation chemistry, One World Lithium expects reduced environmental impacts, lower capital and operating costs, and potential carbon credit opportunities, subject to pilot validation.

For more information about One World Lithium and its technologies, visit https://oneworldlithium.com/.