Vulcan Energy Resources has started commercial-scale production of its proprietary VULSORB lithium extraction adsorbent in Germany.
The company said this marks the first time that the material, used to capture lithium from brine, is being produced at a commercial level.
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The initial output is intended to supply the first fill of lithium extraction columns ahead of the commissioning of Project Lionheart in the second half of 2028 (H2 2028).
The VULSORB material forms part of the Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE) process and has undergone several years of laboratory and industrial demonstration testing.
During these trials, the material achieved up to 95% lithium extraction efficiency across thousands of operating cycles.
Vulcan managing director and CEO Cris Moreno said: “We are delighted to reach another key milestone with the commencement of commercial scale VULSORB production.
“This represents a significant technology, supply chain and execution de-risking achievement for the Lionheart Project ahead of first commercial lithium production.”
VULSORB is based on an aluminate adsorbent formulation and includes both the method and the recipe for manufacture.
According to Vulcan, VULSORB is among a limited number of A-DLE technologies with Western intellectual property and an exclusively ex-China supply chain.
China, described as the leading provider of A-DLE technology, has prioritised export controls and licensing arrangements on overseas shipments since early 2025.
The production of VULSORB follows three years of product trials with European toll manufacturers.
Vulcan Energy reports that these efforts resulted in the successful production of high-purity lithium chloride and battery-grade lithium hydroxide at demonstration plants, supporting the decision to move to full-scale manufacturing.
Project Lionheart, located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field on the German-French border, is set to become Vulcan’s first phase of lithium and renewable energy production.
Plans for the site aim for production of 24,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, which Vulcan Energy states is enough for approximately 500,000 electric vehicle batteries.
VULSORB will also be used at Vulcan’s other sites, including Project Ludwig, and may be offered to third parties through licensing deals.
Vulcan Energy said the manufacture of VULSORB will continue over the next 18–24 months in preparation for Lionheart’s commissioning and potential future international applications via its VULTEC technology division.
