• 83% reduction in acid consumption using only 12 wt% HNO₃ solution
• Eliminates need for AgNO₃ electrolyte or sacrificial metals
• Achieves over 95% silver recovery within 30 minutes under mild conditions

Lithium Universe Limited (ASX: LU7) in collaboration with Macquarie University has announced a breakthrough in solar panel recycling that fundamentally improves the economic and environmental viability of the process. The new Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) technology has been scientifically verified to achieve an 83% reduction in acid consumption, while completely eliminating the need for costly additives and sacrificial metals. The JESE system operates efficiently using only a dilute 12 wt% HNO₃ solution at 5 V, compared to conventional hydrometallurgical routes that consume highly concentrated nitric acid solutions (up to 70 wt% HNO₃) and require up to 48 hours of treatment. Within seven minutes, over 90% of surface-metallised silver is selectively dissolved, reaching near-complete recovery (> 95%) with extended operation times of thirty minutes. The chemical efficiency achieved under such mild conditions confirms the JESE system as a next-generation electrochemical platform that minimises reagent use, energy input, and secondary waste. The JESE process also eliminates the need for AgNO₃ electrolytes or sacrificial metals, creating a zero-additive, zero-waste system. The research team at Macquarie University has conducted a rigorous comparative study, demonstrating the JESE method's superior performance in terms of selective dissolution, rapid processing time, stable low-voltage operation, high-purity output, and high current efficiency. For commercial solar panel recyclers, the 83% reduction in acid usage directly improves profit margins and shortens payback periods for new plants, while the removal of AgNO₃ and Cu additives lowers raw material costs by an estimated 15-20% per kilogram of silver produced.

The JESE technology is expected to have a positive economic impact for industrial-scale PV recycling and circular-economy deployment, as it enables high-purity silver recovery using mild, recyclable acids in a closed-loop system. This directly addresses the opportunity presented by the recent surge in silver prices, which have reached a record high of US$52.21 per ounce, equating to A$56 of silver per discarded solar panel.

Lithium Universe plans to expand the JESE technology's recovery capabilities to other critical metals, further strengthening its role in the global circular economy. The company is committed to ensuring that both its lithium and PV solar recycling strategies help meet the world's growing demand for clean energy, while offering a sustainable solution to the challenges of resource scarcity and waste management.