SEArcularMINE · Project

Extracting Lithium, Magnesium and Rare Metals from Saltworks Waste Brine

environmentPrototypeTRL 5

When you make sea salt by evaporating seawater, the leftover liquid — called bittern — is usually thrown away. But that waste is actually 20 to 40 times richer in valuable metals like lithium and magnesium than the original seawater. This project developed three different technologies to pull those metals out of the concentrated waste, turning a disposal cost into a revenue stream. They even figured out how to generate some of the energy needed for the process on-site using the leftover brine itself.

By the numbers

20-40x

concentration of valuable metals in bittern vs. raw seawater

core innovative technologies developed and integrated

consortium partners across 9 countries

46%

industry ratio in the consortium

SMEs in the consortium

EDBM prototype built and tested with real brines

The business problem

What needed solving

Europe imports nearly all its lithium and many critical raw materials, creating supply chain risks for battery manufacturers and technology companies. Meanwhile, salt producers across the Mediterranean generate millions of tons of concentrated brine waste (bittern) every year that is simply discarded — despite containing valuable metals at 20 to 40 times the concentration found in seawater. There is no commercially available technology to economically extract these metals from saltworks waste at scale.

The solution

What was built

The project developed three core extraction technologies — reactive crystallisation, selective membrane separation, and selective sorption/desorption — and integrated them into a circular processing concept. A key deliverable was an EDBM (electrodialysis with bipolar membranes) prototype unit adapted to SEArcularMINE conditions and tested with both artificial and real brines.

Audience

Who needs this

Salt producers looking to monetize bittern waste streamsLithium and critical raw materials companies seeking European supply sourcesDesalination plant operators facing brine disposal costsBattery manufacturers needing secure lithium supply chainsChemical companies processing magnesium or rare earth compounds

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Salt production and mineral extraction

any

Target: Salt producers and brine processing companies

If you are a salt producer disposing of bittern as waste — this project developed three integrated technologies (reactive crystallisation, selective membrane separation, and selective sorption) that recover lithium, magnesium, and trace metals from your waste brine. The bittern you already produce is 20 to 40 times more concentrated in these metals than raw seawater, making extraction commercially viable.

Battery materials supply chain

enterprise

Target: Lithium and critical raw materials suppliers

If you are a raw materials company struggling with lithium supply — this project demonstrated a European-based extraction route from seawater brine, reducing dependence on imported lithium. The EDBM prototype was tested with real brines and could complement existing mining operations. A consortium of 13 partners across 9 countries validated the technical feasibility.

Desalination and water treatment

enterprise

Target: Desalination plant operators

If you are a desalination plant dealing with concentrated brine disposal costs — this project explored integrating mineral recovery upstream from saltworks, providing freshwater to communities while creating a concentrated feed stream. Instead of paying to discharge brine, you could recover valuable metals like cobalt, gallium, and germanium from it.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this technology?

The project data does not include specific cost figures or pricing models. The technology targets TRL 4-5, meaning significant engineering and scale-up investment would still be needed before commercial deployment. On-site energy generation from reverse electrodialysis and solar/wind was designed to reduce operating costs.

Can this work at industrial scale?

The project brought three core technologies from low TRL up to TRL 4-5, which is laboratory-to-small-scale validation. The EDBM prototype was tested with both artificial and real brines. Scaling to industrial volumes would require further development, likely through a follow-up pilot project.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

The consortium of 13 partners across 9 countries includes 6 industry partners and 5 SMEs. IP from this EU-funded RIA project is typically owned by the partners who generated it. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the relevant consortium members.

Which metals can actually be recovered?

The project targets magnesium, lithium, and trace elements including rubidium, cesium, strontium (alkaline/alkaline earth metals) plus cobalt, gallium, and germanium (transition/post-transition metals). These are extracted from saltworks bittern that is 20 to 40 times more concentrated than raw seawater.

How does this fit with existing salt production operations?

The technology builds directly on the existing saltworks process. Bittern — the by-product of sea salt production — is already available and free of calcium. No changes to the salt production process are needed; the mineral recovery operates downstream on waste that is currently discarded.

What is the timeline to commercial readiness?

The project ran from 2020 to 2024 and reached TRL 4-5. Based on available project data, a pilot-scale demonstration (TRL 6-7) would be the next step, typically requiring 2-3 years of additional development and investment before industrial deployment.

Does this comply with EU raw materials regulations?

The project directly addresses EU Critical Raw Materials strategy by providing a European source of lithium and other strategic metals. It aligns with circular economy policy by converting waste streams into valuable resources, which strengthens regulatory positioning for operators.

Consortium

Who built it

The SEArcularMINE consortium is well-balanced for a research project with clear industry pull: 6 industry partners (46% of the consortium) and 5 SMEs spread across 9 countries including Mediterranean salt-producing nations (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia, Turkey). This geographic mix covers the major European saltworks regions where bittern is readily available. The 4 universities and 3 research organizations provided the scientific backbone, while the strong SME presence suggests genuine commercial interest in taking these technologies forward. The coordinator, University of Palermo in Italy, is located in a region with active salt production — a practical advantage for accessing real brine feedstock during development.

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMOCoordinator · IT
ECOLE NATIONALE D'INGENIEURS DE GABESparticipant · TN
HELSINGIN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI
RESOURSEAS SRLparticipant · IT
TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OYparticipant · FI
SUEZ GROUPEparticipant · FR
ERINN INNOVATION LIMITEDparticipant · IE
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYAparticipant · ES
EKODENGE MUHENDISLIK MIMARLIK DANISMANLIK TICARET ANONIM SIRKETIparticipant · TR
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL E TECNOLOGICAparticipant · PT

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy). Contact SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the research team.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how brine mineral recovery could fit your operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation with the SEArcularMINE team and prepare a tailored technical brief for your specific use case.

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