POSCO Holdings Achieves Domestic Production of Key Electrodialysis Membrane for Lithium Manufacturing Process

2 Years After Starting Development with WESCOPE Korea
Global POSCO Lithium Plant Supply Chain Stability Expected

POSCO Holdings has succeeded in domestic localization of the electrodialysis membrane, a core component in the lithium production process, in collaboration with a small and medium-sized enterprise in Korea.

On the 14th, POSCO Holdings and WSK Korea (hereinafter ‘WSK’) signed a business agreement for ‘Joint Development and Localization Cooperation of Electrodialysis Membranes for Lithium Production’ at WSK Plant 1 in Ochang, Chungbuk. The ceremony was attended by Lee Kyung-seop, Executive Director and Head of Secondary Battery Materials Business Team at POSCO Holdings, Jeon Young-ok, CEO of WSK, and others. Both companies agreed to cooperate on the localization of electrodialysis membranes and related equipment, which are key components of POSCO Holdings’ lithium hydroxide plant, and to establish a stable supply chain.

The electrodialysis membrane is a core component applied in POSCO Holdings’ proprietary lithium extraction technology. Since there are no domestic manufacturers, the membranes have been entirely imported. The two companies began joint development of the electrodialysis membrane in 2021 and have now succeeded in localization, planning to apply it to POSCO Holdings’ commercial lithium plant starting in 2024.

With the successful localization of the electrodialysis membrane, POSCO Holdings will be able to reduce costs of key components for the lithium commercial plant currently under construction and secure a stable supply of lithium. WSK expects to enter the promising electrodialysis membrane business and increase related sales.

WSK is a company that develops and manufactures separators, one of the core materials for lithium-ion secondary batteries, based on its proprietary polymer film manufacturing technology. Since 2013, leveraging accumulated technology, WSK has cooperated with POSCO Holdings in developing lithium electrodialysis membranes, a key component in the lithium hydroxide production process.

POSCO Holdings’ proprietary ‘POSCO-type’ lithium extraction technology applies electrodialysis. Electricity is applied to a stack of membranes that selectively allow certain substances to pass through, while lithium solution flows through, enabling the production of high-purity lithium hydroxide. This process generates no by-products, allows recovery of auxiliary materials, is environmentally friendly, and has low maintenance costs.

Based on the first domestic joint development and commercialization cooperation of electrodialysis membranes for lithium production, the two companies plan to expand their cooperation to develop parts and equipment for recycling by-products in secondary battery material manufacturing processes. Additionally, POSCO Holdings plans to continue building a robust ecosystem by expanding collaboration with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises in the materials, parts, and equipment sector within the secondary battery materials business.

After over 10 years of developing its own lithium extraction technology and operating a demo plant, POSCO Holdings completed the country’s first commercial lithium hydroxide plant based on ore on the 29th of last month. It is currently constructing a commercial lithium hydroxide plant based on brine in Argentina. Once all plants under construction are completed, POSCO Holdings will establish a production system capable of producing 43,000 tons per year based on ore and 50,000 tons per year based on brine.

Following the lithium hydroxide plant with a total capacity of 93,000 tons currently under construction, POSCO Holdings aims to expand its lithium production capacity to 423,000 tons per year by 2030, enter the global top 3 lithium suppliers, and strengthen the value chain encompassing the entire secondary battery materials business.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.