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) to advance its Direct Lithium Carbonation Extraction (DLCE) technology toward a pilot-scale demonstration. The partnerships, also involving nanobubble technology leader Moleaer Inc., aim to validate and optimize a single-step process that uses carbon dioxide nanobubbles to extract lithium carbonate directly from brines and clay slurries, potentially reducing environmental impact and costs compared to traditional methods.
Under the agreements, Moleaer is assembling two nanobubble generators and additional equipment for shipment to the universities within six to eight weeks. The first phase of laboratory work will focus on continued validation and optimization of the DLCE process for brine, with the goal of designing and constructing a containerized pilot plant for field testing. This pilot system is intended to demonstrate the direct production of lithium carbonate from natural brines, bypassing intermediate steps that typically require additional chemical processing.
In parallel, researchers at UBC and UCI will evaluate the potential recovery of other industrial carbonates—including sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium—from brine. If successfully recovered at scale, these co-products could generate incremental revenue streams and improve overall project economics. The second phase will test the DLCE technology on lithium clay slurries, aiming to produce lithium carbonate directly without the use of sulfuric acids, soda ash, sorbents, or multiple concentration steps.
Dr. Alex Tavasoli, an assistant professor in UBC’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, will lead the UBC team. Her research group, the Laboratory of Future Industry (LoFI), focuses on the design, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization of sustainable industrial processes. Tavasoli holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral training at MIT. She has received several Canadian cleantech awards, including being named a Clean50 Emerging Leader.
At UCI, Professor James Earthman will oversee the design and fabrication of testing facilities. Earthman, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, has extensive experience in nanobubble technology and holds 16 issued US patents. He was elected Fellow of ASM International in 2023 and served as a Distinguished Summer Faculty Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory in 2022 for his nanobubble research.
“We are extremely pleased to have such a talented team working with us in advancing OWL’s DLCE technology,” said Doug Fulcher, President and CEO of One World Lithium. “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, alongside the expertise of Moleaer’s nanobubble team, we are in a position to fast track our DLCE process … and complete the construction of a container size test plant in a timely manner.”
The DLCE process integrates carbon dioxide in the separation chemistry, which the company expects to reduce environmental impacts, lower capital and operating costs, and potentially create carbon credit opportunities, pending pilot validation. Unlike conventional methods that produce lithium intermediates requiring further processing, OWL’s objective is to produce lithium carbonate directly in a single step.
For more information about One World Lithium, visit https://oneworldlithium.com/.
