Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7, OTC:LUVSF) has reported a strong September quarter, highlighted by technology breakthroughs, commercial groundwork and progress on its dual lithium-refinery and silver-recycling strategy across North America.
The company completed key acquisitions, confirmed high silver-recovery results from its Macquarie University–developed technology, and advanced plans for a second lithium refinery in the United States to complement its flagship Bécancour project in Québec.
Silver-recycling breakthrough
A major milestone was securing global rights to Macquarie University’s Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) technology, which uses a low-voltage electrochemical jet to recover silver from end-of-life solar panels.
The JESE Technology Workflow.
Combined with Lithium Universe’s existing Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT), the process forms a complete, low-emission recycling platform that preserves glass and silicon wafers while achieving silver recoveries above 95% and purities of 95.95% within minutes — comparable to Britannia-grade silver.
The technology also cuts acid consumption by 83% and eliminates secondary heavy-metal effluent, significantly reducing costs and environmental impact.
To support commercialisation, Lithium Universe added mechatronics and robotics specialist Mohammadreza Hojati to the research team and began assessing a potential PV recycling site in Brownsville, Texas. The proposed facility could house both recycling operations and lithium-refining capacity, creating a multi-commodity clean-energy hub.
Location of LU7 Proposed Second Lithium Refinery Site with Two Trains and PV Recycling Project Under Evaluation.
Expanding lithium refining footprint
The company also launched a second lithium-refinery strategy in Brownsville, designed as a “copy and paste” of its Bécancour design to serve US markets and battery gigafactories.
Bécancour remains the priority, following a positive Definitive Feasibility Study earlier this year confirming the viability of an 18,270-tonne-per-annum lithium-carbonate refinery based on proven Jiangsu plant design.
During the quarter, Lithium Universe advanced discussions with spodumene producers and offtake partners, targeting a memorandum of understanding for 140,000 tonnes per annum of SC6-grade feedstock.
The company says local refining offers a substantial cost advantage over Chinese conversion, particularly as North America moves to onshore critical minerals supply chains following China’s July export ban on lithium-conversion technology.
Corporate progress
Lithium Universe completed its acquisitions of both MJHT and JESE technologies during the quarter and, with Macquarie University, applied for a A$386,000 AEA Ignite Grant to fund a pilot-scale integrated recycling prototype.
Post-quarter, the company raised A$2.5 million at $0.016 per share to progress its refining and recycling programs.
Executive commentary
Executive chairman Iggy Tan said the quarter underscored the company’s progress from research to real-world development.
“The highlight has been the emerging opportunity to establish an entirely new source of high-grade silver, which is becoming a real possibility as we validate and refine our solar-panel recycling solution,” Tan said.
“On the lithium front, we have continued with our counter-cyclical strategy, advancing discussions with offtake partners and spodumene producers. We have also looked at ways to take advantage of all the design work and technological breakthroughs we made in the DFS for Bécancour, which we released earlier this year, and the head start that would give us on ‘copy & paste’ lithium refineries,” Tan added. “This work led to the launch of a second lithium refinery strategy.
“I’d like to point out to investors that this new strategy is more than just a lithium one — it is a cohesive mineral processing plan for the Brownsville site, and it gives us a lot of efficiencies and competitive advantages as we go forward.”