EELI develops advanced lithium recovery solutions, making domestic lithium production viable from extremely low-grade sources. Leveraging applied electrochemistry, EELI’s chemical-free process reduces OpEx by 80 percent and improves process efficiency 3x while radically minimizing environmental impact. Transforming untapped brines into feasible sources, EELI aims to unlock the full potential of American resources.
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Mert Akin
Mert Akin, founder and CEO of mining technology company EELI, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami with a focus on electrochemical energy storage. Formerly a scientist at a leading battery company, Akin led advancements in battery chemistries and recycling processes. Coming from the battery industry, Akin is on a mission to fortify the domestic battery supply chain by developing sustainable and efficient critical mineral extraction technologies leveraging innovations in electrochemistry and materials science.
TECHNOLOGY
Critical Need
The electric vehicle revolution will nearly double global lithium demand by 2030, outpacing projected production. The United States holds vast lithium reserves to meet this growing demand. However, conventional extraction practices are limited by low efficiency, lengthy recovery time, and prohibitive operational expenses, preventing feasible lithium extraction from domestic low-grade sources. Yet, these methods are carbon-, chemical-, and water-intensive, posing an enormous burden on the environment. Consequently, most domestic sources remain untapped, with only one percent of global lithium produced in the United States.
Technology Vision
EELI is on a mission to decarbonize, domesticate, and electrify critical mineral extraction, starting with lithium. Leveraging breakthroughs in electrochemistry and materials science, EELI develops advanced lithium recovery technologies, enabling low-cost, efficient, and sustainable lithium production from untapped domestic sources.
Compared to conventional practices, the company’s chemical-free technology can reduce operational expenses by up to 80 percent, improve process efficiency 3x, while radically minimizing environmental impact. EELI aims to transform unusable brines into feasible sources, unlocking the full potential of American resources.
Potential for Impact
Through decarbonization, domestication, and electrification of critical mineral extraction, EELI generates economic, environmental, and social benefits nationally and globally.
By unlocking domestic resources, EELI mitigates the nation’s foreign lithium dependency, strengthens national security, and enhances energy resilience. The company’s efforts bolster the U.S. economy and catalyze socio-economic progress through workforce development. This will help establish a robust domestic lithium and battery supply chain, fostering accessibility to clean energy nationwide.
EELI’s technology offers significant environmental benefits by dramatically reducing freshwater use and land footprint compared to evaporation methods. Electrifying lithium extraction eliminates chemical consumption and carbon emissions, aligning with 21st-century environmental policies.
Website
EELI Technology
Twitter
@EELITechnology
@DrMertAkin