Aquatech has completed the strategic acquisition of Koch Technology Solutions’ (KTS) direct lithium extraction (DLE) business, integrating the Li-Pro™ Lithium Selective Sorption (LSS) technology and an extensive Li-Pro IP portfolio into the PEARL™ process technology platform. This move places Aquatech at a pivotal point in the lithium value chain, combining Li-Pro LSS with Aquatech’s established PEARL platform to deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for lithium processing. The integration expands Aquatech’s already broad process flowsheet IP, enhances lithium conversion capabilities, and strengthens crystallization expertise, culminating in a platform that now stands as the only commercially proven, end-to-end flowsheet solution for lithium processing on the market today. The PEARL platform, with its capabilities spanning lithium extraction, purification, and refining, is positioned to deliver high-purity battery materials suitable for electric vehicles (EV) and utility-scale electricity storage systems (ESS) across a broad spectrum of applications.
This acquisition represents a significant advancement in the upstream and downstream lithium processing landscape. By integrating Li-Pro LSS into PEARL, Aquatech aims to empower lithium resource owners with modularized process solutions that can scale across projects of varying sizes. The approach is designed to improve project bankability by eliminating critical process risk, accelerating project timelines, and reducing the overall cost of lithium production. As part of the deal, Li-Pro LSS will be offered under a technology license as an integral component of the PEARL full-flowsheet licensing package. The combination creates a cohesive, scalable platform that covers the full lifecycle of lithium processing—from resource extraction through purification to refinement—under a single, proven framework.
In conjunction with the acquisition, all ongoing lithium extraction projects that utilize Li-Pro technology and the associated licenses, agreements, and performance guarantees will be transferred to Aquatech. This transfer includes KTS’ role in the Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Standard Lithium Ltd. (TSX: SLI; NYSE: SLI) concerning activities in the Smackover Formation. Notably, the collaboration has demonstrated substantial performance, with more than 12,000 operational cycles completed at the demonstration plant using Li-Pro technology and achieving an average lithium recovery exceeding 95 percent. The transaction also encompasses a licensing arrangement with Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor (NYSE: EQNR; OSE: EQNR), for the first phase of the South West Arkansas project. This project represents one of the largest lithium endeavors in the United States, featuring an initial phase designed to produce 22,500 tons per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent, with substantial potential for future expansion. First production from this project is targeted for 2028, underscoring the strategic synergy between Li-Pro’s proven performance and PEARL’s end-to-end capabilities.
Diving into leadership perspectives, Dave Dotson, President at Koch Engineered Solutions—the parent company of Koch Technology Solutions—emphasized the significance of Li-Pro LSS as a scalable, market-ready DLE solution. He highlighted Aquatech’s unique positioning to scale this technology and deliver it into projects as a cost-competitive, end-to-end processing solution that can unlock substantial value for the lithium industry. Dotson’s remarks reflect a broader industry sentiment that scalable, cost-efficient, and reliable DLE processes are critical to meeting growing demand and advancing global supply chains. Garrett Krall, who leads Critical Minerals & Lithium at Koch Technology Solutions, noted that Koch’s legacy lithium customers are positioned to benefit from the broader Aquatech offering. Krall also stressed the ongoing interest Koch maintains in the technology’s success through its investments in several key lithium minerals and lithium battery sector companies. This continued engagement signals confidence in Li-Pro’s potential and a commitment to the broader market impact that the acquisition could enable.
Venkee Sharma, Executive Chairman at Aquatech, underscored the fragmentation issue that has historically plagued the market. He pointed to the proliferation of disparate, non-integrated technology offerings as a source of elevated project costs, higher risk, and longer time-to-market for critical minerals projects across the Americas and Europe. Sharma asserted that integrating Li-Pro within the PEARL platform resolves this critical industry bottleneck by delivering the only proven full-flowsheet solution that encompasses both upstream and downstream lithium processing technologies. He welcomed the Li-Pro team to Aquatech and praised the Li-Pro developers for their pioneering work in Li-Pro LSS. With more than 45 years of experience scaling commercially proven technologies, Sharma indicated that Aquatech is well-positioned to evolve Li-Pro LSS both as a standalone technology offering and as a core element of the PEARL platform.
In line with these strategic developments, Aquatech’s leadership highlighted a clear path to expanded market access and accelerated commercialization. The combined strengths of Li-Pro LSS and PEARL are expected to deliver tangible value for lithium resource owners and downstream users alike, offering a cohesive, end-to-end, licensable solution. The integration supports a broader corporate mission to deliver technologically advanced solutions that address the most demanding process challenges in lithium, critical minerals, and industrial water. The overarching objective is to provide high-performance, reliable process outcomes that help customers meet increasingly stringent purity requirements, optimize production schedules, and minimize lifecycle costs.
This announcement emphasizes Aquatech’s commitment to advancing the lithium sector by uniting Li-Pro LSS with the PEARL platform, thereby enabling cost-effective, scalable, and robust lithium processing across extraction, purification, and refining stages. The combined capability set is designed to empower producers and project developers to achieve more predictable project economics, shorter development timelines, and improved overall project bankability. The strategic move also aligns with Aquatech’s broader vision to remain at the forefront of technology-enabled solutions in lithium and critical minerals processing, leveraging decades of industry experience to bring proven, end-to-end capabilities to market more rapidly and with greater reliability.
About Aquatech
Aquatech is a technology-driven organization that leverages engineering excellence, innovative technology, and execution leadership to solve some of the world’s most demanding process challenges in lithium, critical minerals, and industrial water. The company’s technology portfolio, project execution expertise, and service capabilities are founded on a culture of performance excellence built over more than four decades. Aquatech has deployed thousands of facilities across more than 60 countries, reflecting a broad global footprint and a track record of delivering sophisticated process solutions for complex projects. The organization emphasizes scalable, reliable, and cost-effective approaches to handling the most challenging process requirements in its target markets.
About Koch Technology Solutions
Koch Technology Solutions (KTS) is a leader in technology licensing, renowned for delivering operating efficiency and capital productivity to licensees that deploy the technologies within its portfolio. KTS collaborates with partner companies to develop and license advanced chemical process technologies, enabling the deployment of next-generation process solutions in the market. By combining licensing excellence with technical innovation, KTS helps clients translate breakthrough technologies into practical, commercially viable implementations that drive performance and growth across multiple sectors.
Key program updates and project insights
- Li-Pro LSS is now a core element of the PEARL platform, enabling an end-to-end lithium processing solution that covers extraction, purification, and refining steps with a unified technology stack.
- The Li-Pro LSS technology has demonstrated strong performance in real-world demonstrations, including more than 12,000 operational cycles at a Li-Pro demonstration plant, achieving an average lithium recovery rate of over 95 percent, indicating robust performance and high efficiency in extraction processes.
- The Smackover Formation project, under the JDA with Standard Lithium, represents a major collaboration that has progressed to substantial testing and deployment activities, reinforcing Li-Pro’s potential to contribute to large-scale lithium supply chains in the United States.
- The South West Arkansas project, managed through Smackover Lithium (a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor), is designed as a first-phase initiative with a target output of 22,500 tpa of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), signaling strong potential for expansion beyond the initial phase.
- The 2028 production target for the South West Arkansas project highlights the ambitious timeline for bringing new lithium capacity online in the United States, aligning with broader strategic efforts to strengthen domestic lithium resources and supply chains.
- The integrated licensing approach ensures that Li-Pro technology remains accessible to customers within Aquatech’s broader licensing framework, supporting a seamless adoption path for projects seeking a comprehensive, end-to-end solution.
The acquisition aligns with Aquatech’s strategic objective to deliver a complete, end-to-end flowsheet for lithium processing that bridges upstream resource extraction with downstream purification and refining. By integrating Li-Pro LSS into the PEARL platform, Aquatech is positioned to offer a unified solution that reduces project risk, accelerates development timelines, and lowers the total cost of ownership for lithium projects. The combination of Li-Pro’s demonstrated performance with PEARL’s mature processing capabilities creates a platform capable of addressing the evolving needs of the lithium industry, from mining and processing to high-purity battery materials production.
Conclusion
The strategic acquisition of Koch Technology Solutions’ Li-Pro DLE technology and IP by Aquatech marks a transformative step in the lithium processing landscape. The integration into the PEARL platform establishes a唯一 end-to-end, commercially proven flowsheet solution that spans extraction, purification, and refining. This consolidation promises to enhance project bankability, reduce risk, and shorten timelines for a broad range of lithium developments. The transfer of ongoing Li-Pro projects, the JDA with Standard Lithium for the Smackover Formation, and the Smackover-Lithium joint venture with Equinor in South West Arkansas underscore the real-world scale and potential impact of this combination. With Li-Pro now licensed as part of PEARL’s full flowsheet, Aquatech is well-positioned to meet growing demand for lithium materials while delivering value to resource owners, downstream manufacturers, and the broader energy storage ecosystem. The collaboration reflects an industry-wide shift toward integrated, end-to-end process solutions that can accelerate the deployment of critical minerals capacity, improve economic performance, and support the transition to a more sustainable and reliable energy future.
