Electrodialysis Expansion Project Advances Lithium Recovery at Chalco Henan Branch
Lanran is advancing an electrodialysis expansion project for lithium recovery at Chalco Henan Branch, supporting more efficient lithium resource recovery from alumina production.
Industrial Electrodialysis for Lithium Recovery
The project is an industrial demonstration project focused on recovering lithium associated with bauxite processing. Lithium contained in alumina by-products is dissolved with nitric acid and then concentrated through Lanran’s electrodialysis system to produce lithium nitrate solution for the downstream evaporation process.
A reverse osmosis system is integrated with the electrodialysis process to further recover lithium from the dilute stream, enabling an overall lithium recovery rate of more than 99% while supporting a more resource-efficient, closed-loop production process.
Lanran’s original electrodialysis system entered commercial operation in 2024. Following its stable operation and proven economic performance, the customer decided to expand the project in July 2026.
The expansion increases the plant’s lithium recovery capacity by approximately 20%, adding eight electrodialysis units with a treatment capacity of 10 m³/h to the existing 30-unit system, which processes 60 m³/h.
Fast Project Execution
To meet the customer’s project schedule, Lanran completed equipment manufacturing within just 15 days after receiving the expansion request in late June. The equipment was shipped on July 11.
Before shipment, Lanran engineers had already arrived at the project site to coordinate installation conditions, verify equipment interfaces, and prepare for delivery. Manufacturing and site preparation progressed simultaneously, helping keep the project on schedule.
On-Site Engineering Support
Despite the summer heat, Lanran’s engineering team continues to provide on-site installation guidance and technical support while working closely with the customer throughout project implementation.
The team is making every effort to complete installation and commissioning as scheduled, enabling the expanded lithium recovery system to begin operation as soon as possible.
Supporting Sustainable Lithium Resource Recovery
The project demonstrates how industrial electrodialysis can improve lithium resource utilization by concentrating lithium nitrate for downstream processing while working together with reverse osmosis to maximize lithium recovery.
From rapid manufacturing to on-site engineering support, Lanran remains committed to delivering reliable electrodialysis solutions that help customers accelerate project implementation, improve resource efficiency, and support more sustainable industrial production.
