• Breakthrough in electrode design improves silver extraction efficiency
• 83% reduction in acid consumption for silver recycling
• Highest purity silver recovered with advanced crystalline structure
• Recruited mechatronics and robotics expertise to research team

Lithium Universe, in collaboration with Macquarie University, continued to make significant progress in developing its suite of recycling technologies for critical minerals recovery from solar panel waste. The research team published results demonstrating that sharper electrode tip designs can improve silver extraction efficiency by up to 75%, with more uniform removal and reduced residues. They also verified an 83% reduction in acid consumption for the Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) process, lowering chemical costs and environmental impact. Additionally, the team achieved recovery of high-purity silver approaching commercial 3N grade (99.88%), with a uniform nanodendritic structure that enhances conductivity for premium electronics applications. To support the scaling of the JESE technology, Lithium Universe recruited a Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering expert to the research team. On the commercialization front, the company signed an MOU with Taiwanese recycler RePV Tech to integrate their delamination process with Lithium Universe's silver extraction systems. Lithium Universe also identified a potential recycling facility site in the Port of Brownsville, Texas, to complement its Australian initiatives, citing the state's rapid solar growth, supportive regulations, robust infrastructure, and investor appetite as key advantages.

Lithium Universe successfully raised $2.5 million to progress its Solar Panel Recycling project and Lithium Refinery projects, completed at a 2% premium to the 15-day VWAP.

Lithium Universe is proceeding with land lease application and Scoping Study for a second lithium carbonate refinery in Brownsville, Texas, to complement its flagship Bécancour project in Québec and take advantage of surging North American lithium demand. The company is also in discussions with engineering companies to integrate its recycling technologies for commercial-scale operations.