BOSTON– Gradiant, a global water and resource recovery firm, announced plans to begin commercial production of battery-grade lithium carbonate from oilfield wastewater at a new facility in Pennsylvania, marking a major milestone in domestic lithium supply. The facility, operated by Gradiant’s lithium platform alkaLi, is the first in the world to integrate lithium extraction, concentration, and conversion (EC²) in a single end-to-end process using produced water from oilfields.
Set in the Marcellus Shale Formation, the facility will begin commercial operations in early 2026. According to Gradiant, the site has already demonstrated key technical benchmarks: 97% lithium recovery from produced water and 99.5% purity of final product, confirming its ability to deliver battery-grade lithium at scale.
“This isn’t theoretical—this is a live, operating facility,” said Gradiant CEO Anurag Bajpayee. “We’re proving that clean, domestic lithium production is not only viable but scalable. This technology has the potential to supply up to half of U.S. lithium demand.”
alkaLi’s EC² process is designed to streamline what are typically separate and resource-intensive steps into a compact, modular system. The process uses advanced direct lithium extraction (DLE) methods optimized with AI to reduce costs, environmental footprint, and permitting timelines. The system is capable of processing various input sources including geothermal brines, recycled battery materials, and produced water.
In a significant commercial breakthrough, alkaLi has secured a multi-year offtake agreement to supply up to 5,000 metric tonnes annually of battery-grade lithium carbonate to a U.S.-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The agreement supports production of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, reflecting the growing domestic demand for reliable lithium supplies.
Gradiant’s approach is vertically integrated: alkaLi owns and controls all aspects of the Pennsylvania facility, including the land, equipment, mineral and water rights, and environmental permits. This self-contained model avoids many of the regulatory and supply chain challenges that frequently delay U.S. mineral development projects.
The company plans to expand its reach by offering multiple deployment models for its EC² platform—ranging from licensing the technology to other lithium producers, to developing and operating custom facilities for partners, and continuing lithium production from alkaLi-owned sites.
“By delivering a proven, high-efficiency process that cuts capital and operating costs by up to 50%, EC² positions us and our partners to meet the surging need for battery-grade lithium while supporting the clean energy transition,” Bajpayee added.
As demand for U.S.-sourced critical minerals grows, Gradiant’s move into commercial lithium production represents a significant advance in sustainable, scalable domestic supply solutions.
