ILiAD Technologies

What ILiAD Technologies does

ILiAD Technologies is a private direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology company headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and operating as a subsidiary of EnergySource Minerals. The company develops and supplies a patented modular DLE platform based on a simulated moving bed (SMB) counter-current adsorption-desorption process, combined with a proprietary USA-made lithium-selective sorbent. The platform is engineered to process diverse brine types — including salar, produced water, geothermal, and groundwater brines — across total dissolved solids from 8% to over 40% and lithium feed concentrations from 50 ppm to over 2,000 ppm, producing lithium chloride with 99.9% or greater impurity rejection. An optional ILiAD+ enhancement is claimed to improve impurity rejection by 85% and the lithium-to-sodium ratio by more than 6x, with projected savings of approximately $100M in initial CAPEX and over $60M per year in OPEX per deployment, plus a 10%+ reduction in downstream processing costs.

The company's product portfolio includes the core ILiAD DLE Platform, the ILiAD+ enhancement module, ILiAD sorbent media, and the ILiAD 5-Module DLE Plant, with each 40ft x 60ft module delivering up to 10,000 mTPA LCE of capacity. ILiAD sells directly to enterprise customers — primarily lithium mining companies and energy firms — through a long-cycle, field-sales-led go-to-market motion that begins with pilot deployments to demonstrate scalability and selectivity under real-world conditions before scaling to full commercial plants. Its flagship commercial reference is a strategic partnership with Rio Tinto (formerly Livent), which invested in the company in 2023 and is hosting an advanced DLE pilot at its Sal de Vida project in Catamarca, Argentina, operational from January 2026.

ILiAD's revenue model centers on sale or licensing of modular DLE plant systems and associated proprietary technology, with pricing conducted on a quote-based, project-by-project basis given the capital-intensive industrial nature of deployments. The company is privately held, has 11-50 employees, and has secured strategic equity investments from Rio Tinto/Livent (December 2023) and SLB (July 2024), with EnergySource Minerals serving as the parent company providing corporate infrastructure and strategic direction. The company's competitive position rests on a portfolio of more than a dozen active hydrometallurgical patents associated with inventor Dr. Charles Marston and on demonstrated brine-versatility across the lithium triangle and broader global brine resources.

Name

ILiAD Technologies

Legal name

ILiAD Technologies

Website

https://iliadtech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ILiAD Technologies is a private, Carlsbad-based direct lithium extraction technology firm selling modular simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorption plants and proprietary sorbents to lithium mining and energy companies, with Rio Tinto as its flagship partner and pilot host in Argentina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Direct Lithium Extraction Systems

NAICS

Support Activities for Mining (213)

SIC

Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)

akta.pro primary industry

Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Battery Manufacturing Equipment & Gigafactory Automation (Coating, Calendering, Stacking/Winding) (EUAFABAM)

Keywords

• Direct lithium extraction
• Lithium extraction technology
• Brine processing systems
• Hydrometallurgical separation
• Modular extraction plants

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. DLE Plant Equipment Sales / Modular System Sales: ILiAD generates revenue through the sale of modular Direct Lithium Extraction plant systems. Each module is a self-contained unit delivered fully assembled, with one module capable of up to 10,000 mTPA LCE. The company designs, engineers, and supplies the DLE systems to mining and energy company customers for deployment at their brine extraction sites. Revenue is likely a mix of upfront equipment sale and potentially ongoing technical support/service components.
2. Technology Licensing and Intellectual Property: The company holds multiple patents on its DLE technology and operates under a freedom-to-operate model, suggesting licensing of its patented simulated moving bed adsorption process and associated sorbent technology to third parties may be part of the revenue model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ILiAD Technologies designs, engineers and supplies modular Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) plant systems built on a patented simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorption process that combines lithium-selective sorbent media with a continuous counter-current adsorption-desorption circuit. Each fully assembled module delivers up to 10,000 metric tons per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and is offered with an optional ILiAD+ enhancement that boosts impurity rejection by 85% and improves lithium-to-sodium ratios by more than 6x. The system is sold to lithium mining and energy companies for deployment at brine extraction sites globally.

Product overview

ILiAD Technologies offers a unified Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) platform centered on its patented simulated moving bed adsorption technology. The core ILiAD DLE Platform processes lithium from various brine sources (salar brines, produced water, geothermal brines, ground water) at feed concentrations from 50 ppm to >2000 ppm and total dissolved solids from 8% to >40%. The ILiAD+ enhancement module boosts impurity rejection by 85% and improves lithium-to-sodium ratios by >6x, simplifying downstream processing. The system uses proprietary USA-made lithium-selective sorbent media and is delivered as a modularized 5-module configuration capable of producing up to 10,000 mTPA LCE per module. The technology achieves 99.9% or greater impurity rejection for high-quality lithium chloride product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ILiAD: Core DLE technology platform powered by simulated moving bed adsorption process for lithium extraction
• ILiAD+

Products and services

• ILiAD DLE Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9%+ impurity rejection in lithium chloride product
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core / flagship.

• Rio Tinto (formerly Livent)core / flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, Rio Tinto (then operating as Livent) invested in ILiAD Technologies, establishing a strategic partnership to advance efficient, sustainable lithium production using ILiAD's proprietary DLE technology. The partnership culminated in the deployment of an advanced DLE pilot unit at Rio Tinto's Sal de Vida site in Catamarca, Argentina in January 2026. The pilot demonstrates the scalability, efficiency, and selectivity of ILiAD's technology under real-world operating conditions, representing a key milestone in the collaboration. The relationship is mutual: Rio Tinto provides the operational site and investment capital, while ILiAD provides its patented DLE technology and operational expertise.
• EnergySource Mineralscore / flagshipOthersILiAD Technologies is a subsidiary of EnergySource Minerals, a parent company providing corporate infrastructure, shared resources, and strategic direction. Prior to leading ILiAD, CEO Sam Moore served as Chief Commercial Officer at EnergySource Minerals and was a member of its Board. Dr. Charles Marston has been exclusively engaged with EnergySource Minerals since 2016, focusing on the development of the continuous adsorption/desorption lithium extraction process.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lilac Solutions: Lilac Solutions is a direct lithium extraction technology company using ion exchange beads to extract lithium from brines. It is a primary direct competitor to ILiAD in the DLE technology market, serving lithium mining customers with modular extraction solutions.
• Energy Exploration Technologies (EnergyX): EnergyX develops direct lithium extraction and refining technologies, including its LiTAS sorbent-based process. It competes directly with ILiAD in selling DLE technology and equipment to lithium brine producers globally.
• Standard Lithium: Standard Lithium is a DLE technology and lithium project developer focused on Smackover brines in Arkansas. It operates as a direct competitor to ILiAD with proprietary extraction technology targeted at lithium brine resources.
• Summit Nanotech: Summit Nanotech develops direct lithium extraction technology using its denaLi sorbent for lithium recovery from brine. It is a direct competitor to ILiAD serving lithium producers in South America and other brine-rich regions.
• Vulcan Energy Resources: Vulcan Energy Resources produces lithium from geothermal brines in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley using a DLE process. It represents a direct competing approach using geothermal brines, an end market ILiAD explicitly targets.
• Sunresin New Materials: Sunresin is a leading manufacturer of ion exchange resins and adsorbent materials used in lithium extraction and other separation processes. It competes with ILiAD's proprietary sorbent technology and supplies DLE technology providers globally.
• International Battery Metals (IBAT): IBAT designs and manufactures modular direct lithium extraction plants using a sorbent-based extraction process. It competes directly with ILiAD in selling modular DLE equipment to lithium brine operators.

Broad incumbents

• EnergySource Minerals: EnergySource Minerals is ILiAD's parent company and a developer of integrated lithium extraction projects, particularly at the Salton Sea. As the parent operator of integrated lithium assets, it is a broader incumbent in the same lithium extraction market that ILiAD serves with its DLE technology.
• SLB (Schlumberger): SLB is a strategic investor in ILiAD and the world's largest oilfield services company. While not a DLE specialist, SLB is increasingly active in the lithium extraction market through partnerships and investments, serving as a broad incumbent adjacent to ILiAD's core business.

Emerging players

• Saltworks Technologies: Saltworks Technologies specializes in ion exchange and membrane-based separation processes for lithium and other critical minerals from brines. It is an emerging player in the DLE space with partial overlap to ILiAD's ion exchange-based lithium extraction approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iliad-technologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ILiAD Technologies