Battery
Evonik’s Liocel selected for next phase of Altmark Lithium pilot
The Altmark region in Saxony-Anhalt holds a project-specific lithium resource estimated at 43 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent
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By ICN Bureau | August 14, 2026
Evonik Catalysts is backing the next phase of Neptune Energy’s Altmark Lithium Extraction Project (ALE), with its Liocel adsorbent selected as the first material to undergo testing at a direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot plant developed by Fraunhofer IEG.
The move follows successful preliminary testing and marks a step forward in efforts to develop domestic lithium production from geothermal brine in Germany.
The Altmark region in Saxony-Anhalt holds a project-specific lithium resource estimated at 43 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Neptune Energy is pursuing DLE technology to recover lithium from geothermal brine, as part of a broader effort to strengthen Europe’s supply of critical raw materials.
The project’s first pilot phase compared several commercially available DLE technologies under conditions specific to the Altmark resource, including ion-exchange and adsorption processes. The results led Neptune to select adsorption technology for further testing in Pilot Phase II.
Evonik’s Liocel adsorbent was chosen for the new phase after demonstrating stability and strong performance during preliminary trials. Evonik will also provide on-site application and process expertise throughout the pilot program.
Developed by Fraunhofer IEG, the pilot plant is designed for oxygen-free lithium extraction and can process up to 1,000 liters of geothermal brine per day. During Phase II, Neptune Energy will evaluate multiple adsorbent materials over the coming months to identify the most suitable solution for potential industrial-scale deployment.
"We are pleased to partner with Neptune Energy and Frauenhofer IEG in this important next phase of the project," said Michael Frey, Vice President and Head of Process Catalysts & Adsorbents at Evonik.
"Together, we look forward to further evaluating adsorption-based lithium extraction under the specific conditions of the Altmark resource and contributing our technical expertise to the project."
