KEY POINTS
- Vulcan has started commercial VULSORB production.
- The technology can achieve up to 95% lithium extraction.
- Lionheart targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide yearly.
Vulcan Energy has begun commercial-scale production of its proprietary VULSORB lithium extraction technology, marking a key step toward its planned lithium production in Germany.
Australia- and Frankfurt-listed Vulcan Energy has started commercial production of VULSORB, an adsorbent designed to selectively extract lithium from brine.
The technology will be used at Vulcan’s Lionheart lithium production plant in Germany, which is currently under construction and scheduled for commissioning in the second half of 2028.
VULSORB has completed thousands of operating cycles under real-world conditions, with lithium extraction efficiency reaching as high as 95%.
The technology uses an aluminate-based adsorbent formulation and includes the manufacturing process used to produce the material. Vulcan says this gives it control over both the technology and its supply chain.
Technology aims to reduce supply risks
The development is important as lithium extraction technologies become increasingly strategic amid efforts by companies and governments to secure critical-mineral supply chains.
China is a major global supplier of adsorption-based direct lithium extraction technology and products. The country introduced export controls and tighter licensing arrangements for overseas shipments in early 2025.
Vulcan says producing VULSORB commercially will give the company greater control over its technology supply and reduce its exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks.
Vulcan MD and CEO Cris Moreno said the achievement would help reduce technology, supply-chain and execution risks for the Lionheart project ahead of its planned first commercial lithium production.
He added that adsorption-based direct lithium extraction is gaining acceptance among major companies as an important technology for extracting lithium from brine resources.
Lionheart targets major lithium output
The Lionheart project combines lithium production with renewable-energy generation.
Vulcan is targeting annual production of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate from the project. It also plans to produce about 275 GWh of renewable electricity and 560 GWh of heat each year for local consumers.
The project is expected to have an operating life of about 30 years.
Vulcan plans to focus on manufacturing VULSORB over the next 18 to 24 months as it prepares for the commissioning of Lionheart.
Beyond Lionheart, Vulcan sees VULSORB as a platform that could be deployed across other parts of its resource base.
The company also plans to use its VULTEC technology arm to selectively license the technology to other operators internationally.
Such licensing could give Vulcan access to lithium brine opportunities in other jurisdictions while expanding the potential commercial application of its extraction technology.
The move therefore positions VULSORB not only as a component of the Lionheart project, but also as a potential technology business for Vulcan as demand for lithium and direct extraction solutions grows.
