Each LithiumSphere functions like an eco-island: a cost-effective, solar-powered DLE system that extracts lithium directly from brine sources while strengthening the ecological balance of its surroundings.

Covered ponds sorb the lithium and collect rainwater on the surface for the desorption process. Photovoltaic modules drive gentle pumping cycles and each unit blends harmoniously into agricultural or natural landscapes.

Instead of plants that consume resources, microsystems are created that coexist with the land – a regenerative mosaic in which technology and nature work in harmony.

As the world transitions to clean energy, the LithiumSphere project shows that mining can be both high-tech and life-affirming if it is conceived as a resource-efficient harvesting method.

LithiumSphere is more than just lithium extraction. It is a living network of eco-islands that drives the sustainable future.

The process uses a granular sorbent through which the brine flows slowly. Under conditions of high salt concentrations, lithium binds preferentially to the surface of the sorbent. In the next step, the material is rinsed with fresh water – this releases the lithium again and extracts it in a highly concentrated form. This simple change between brine and freshwater conditions eliminates the need for expensive chemicals, complex membrane systems or energy-intensive evaporation processes.

The advantages at a glance

• Extremely low investment costs due to simple technology and use of existing infrastructure (e.g. buffer ponds in geothermal plants).
• No expensive operating materials are required, neither special chemicals nor complex regeneration processes are needed.
• Ecologically compatible thanks to the use of mass-available materials such as lime or dolomite.
• Easy integration into existing geothermal and natural gas processes.

There is particular potential in the use of side streams of deep geothermal energy, for example in the Rhine Graben. There, thermal water is extracted from a depth of several kilometers to provide heat for electricity and combined heat and power plants. Our process makes it possible to additionally use this brine flow for lithium extraction – without impairing heating operations. This creates a combination of renewable energy production and raw material extraction that makes Germany less dependent on imports and at the same time strengthens value creation in the region.

Outlook

The granting of the patent gives a new boost to lithium extraction in Germany. The process opens up the possibility of extracting lithium directly where brines are already produced as a by-product – regionally, sustainably and cost-effectively. This is an important building block for the nationwide supply of the future market of batteries and electromobility.

CARBOSANDS is developing an innovative solution to transform natural gas and biomethane into CO₂-free, clean hydrogen and high-quality building materials – with zero emissions.

This is how it works:

• Methane pyrolysis splits methane into hydrogen (as a clean energy source) and solid carbon.

• The solid carbon is processed into a high-performance material in a specially developed fluidized bed reactor and a patented granulation process.

• The result is a granular carbon that can replace conventional building sand in concrete – with high compressive and tensile strength thanks to optimum grain shape and particle distribution.

Double the added value, double the impact:

1. Hydrogen as a valuable, emission-free energy source

2. High-performance material for the construction industry – opens up a gigaton-strong market.

Climate-positive building

• If biogas or renewable methane is used, CARBOSANDS goes beyond CO₂ neutrality – by permanently embedding carbon in buildings.

• The material is fully recyclable, carbon remains immobilized throughout life cycles – creating a decentralized CO₂ sink.

• Each tonne of embedded carbon corresponds to 2-3 tons of CO₂. If used globally (3 billion tons of material per year), the potential is up to 9 billion tons of CO₂ storage per year.

Conclusion
CARBOSANDS combines hydrogen production with building material innovations – in a scalable, economically attractive production process without CO₂ emissions. This is a potential game changer for sustainable infrastructure.

Further information can be found on the website: CARBOSANDS