In-field demonstration program launches with Rio Tinto in Argentina
ILiAD Technologies today announced the deployment of its advanced Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) pilot unit at Rio Tinto’s Sal de Vida site in Catamarca, Argentina. The program will demonstrate the long-term performance of ILiAD’s proprietary DLE technology, including the latest ILiAD+ enhancements, across a range of Rio Tinto brines. This pilot marks a key milestone for ILiAD in showcasing the scalability, efficiency and selectivity of its processes under real-world operating conditions.
“We are excited to transition into this in-field program with Rio Tinto. Our latest advancements in DLE offer significant project savings, and this test deployment gives us the opportunity to showcase that performance directly,” said Samuel Moore, Chief Executive Officer of ILiAD Technologies.
ILiAD has invested heavily in Argentina, building a local presence and capabilities to support deployment at scale. Moore added, “Argentina is an important market for ILiAD. We look forward to working alongside Rio Tinto’s team to show what our technology can deliver.”
This deployment builds on the strategic partnership established when Rio Tinto (then Livent) invested in ILiAD in 2023. The collaboration underscores the rising importance of high-performance DLE technologies in securing lithium supply to meet surging global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage.
“This pilot represents an exciting next step in our collaboration with ILiAD,” said Barbara Fochtman, Managing Director, Rio Tinto Lithium. “With more than 30 years of operating DLE at commercial scale, we have the know-how and experience to evaluate new technologies and integrate them with proven processes. That combination is essential to advancing efficient, sustainable lithium production and delivering for our customers.”
ILiAD’s technology works across nearly all brine types globally, combining industry-leading impurity rejection with high recovery rates and low water consumption. This approach delivers a scalable, sustainable solution to meet growing lithium demand worldwide.
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