Top 10 Lithium Tailings Extraction Plant Suppliers in the United States in 2025

Based in Reno, Nevada—right in the heart of America's lithium country—ALRI has been turning heads since 2018. What started as a small team of mining engineers and environmental scientists is now one of the most trusted names in tailings extraction. Their secret? A focus on dry process equipment that cuts down on water use, a big win in drought-prone regions like the American West.

Their flagship lithium tailing ore extraction plant , the ALR-5000, can process up to 50 tons of tailings per hour. Instead of soaking tailings in chemicals (the messy "wet process" many still use), ALRI uses a combination of air classification and electrostatic separation to pull out lithium particles. It's like using a super-powered vacuum with a magnet—clean, efficient, and way easier to scale.

But what really sets ALRI apart is their commitment to the whole package. Every plant comes with an air pollution control system equipment that traps dust and harmful emissions, meeting the strictest EPA standards. They even offer on-site training for operators, so mines don't just get a machine—they get a team that's got their back. Case in point: A gold mine in Idaho was stuck with tailings that were piling up and leaching into local streams. ALRI installed an ALR-5000, and within 6 months, the mine was extracting 92% pure lithium carbonate while cutting water usage by 80%. Now that's a win-win.

If ALRI is the king of dry processing, Eco-Tailings Solutions (ETS) is the queen of water process equipment —but with a twist. This Boulder, Colorado-based company specializes in "closed-loop" wet systems, meaning every ｄｒｏｐ of water used in extraction is recycled. No waste, no runoff, just pure lithium and happy environmental regulators.

Their ETS-3000 plant uses a gentle leaching process with biodegradable reagents (no harsh acids here!) to dissolve lithium from tailings. The solution is then filtered through a series of water process equipment —think ultra-fine membranes and ion exchange resins—that capture lithium ions and send the cleaned water right back into the system. It's like a high-tech fish tank filter, but for mining tailings. And yes, it works: Their plants have a lithium recovery rate of 95%, even from low-grade tailings that other systems struggle with.

ETS also knows that mines don't all have the same needs. That's why they offer modular plants that can be customized for everything from small-scale operations (5 tons/hour) to massive sites (100+ tons/hour). A lithium mine in Montana recently upgraded to ETS's modular setup, and now they can adjust processing capacity based on tailings availability—no more idle machines or missed deadlines. As one mine manager put it: "ETS didn't just sell us a plant. They designed a system that grows with us."

GreenTech Extractors, out of Portland, Oregon, is all about innovation—especially when it comes to making extraction accessible for smaller mines. Their claim to fame? The GT-Portable, a compact lithium tailing ore extraction plant that fits on a semi-truck trailer. No need for permanent construction or huge upfront costs—just hook it up, plug it in, and start extracting.

Don't let the size fool you, though. The GT-Portable uses a hybrid dry-wet process: It first dries tailings with hot air (cutting down on water needs) then uses a small amount of eco-friendly solvent to dissolve lithium. The result? A plant that can process 10-15 tons/hour, perfect for remote mines or test sites. And since it's portable, mines can move it between tailings piles instead of building multiple facilities. A lithium exploration company in Wyoming used the GT-Portable to test 3 different tailings sites in one month—saving them over $2 million in construction costs compared to building a permanent plant.

GreenTech also gets points for thinking about the little things. Their plants come with a user-friendly touchscreen interface that even someone with no mining experience can operate. Alerts pop up if something's off (like low solvent levels or a clogged filter), and troubleshooting guides are built right in. It's like having a tech support team in a box. As one customer joked: "My grandma could run this thing—and she still uses a flip phone."

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, WLS has been a staple in the mining equipment world for over 30 years—but they didn't stop at traditional mining. When lithium tailings became a hot topic, they pivoted fast, leveraging their decades of experience to build some of the most durable plants on the market. Their lithium tailing ore extraction plant , the WLS-Titan, is built like a tank—literally. The main processing chamber is made from corrosion-resistant steel, and moving parts are designed to last 10+ years with minimal maintenance. In a industry where downtime costs thousands per hour, that's a game-changer.

WLS also leads the pack in processing efficiency. Their Titan plants use a proprietary "multi-stage crushing and separation" method that breaks down tailings into finer particles than most competitors, making it easier to extract lithium. Pair that with their water process equipment that recycles 98% of the water used, and you've got a plant that's both tough and green. A copper mine in Arizona, which had tailings sitting for over 20 years, installed a Titan plant and now extracts enough lithium to power 10,000 electric cars annually—all from waste they once considered worthless.

What really wins customers over, though, is WLS's customer service. They offer 24/7 tech support, and if a part breaks, they'll ship a replacement within 48 hours (thanks to warehouses in Texas, Nevada, and Montana). One mine manager told us: "We had a bearing fail on a Saturday night. By Monday morning, WLS had a tech on-site and the plant was back up. You can't put a price on that kind of reliability."

Based in Seattle, Washington, CET is all about "circular economy" thinking—turning waste into wealth, and doing it with zero harm to the planet. Their approach? Combining dry process equipment with cutting-edge AI. Their CET-Smart plant uses sensors and machine learning to adjust processing in real-time, optimizing for lithium yield while minimizing energy use. It's like having a PhD in chemical engineering monitoring the plant 24/7—without the salary.

Here's how it works: As tailings enter the plant, sensors analyze their composition (how much lithium, clay, rock, etc.). The AI then tweaks variables like air flow, temperature, and separation strength to match. If tailings are extra sandy one day, the plant slows down and uses more air pressure to separate lithium particles. If they're clay-heavy, it switches to a gentler mode to avoid clogging. The result? A 15-20% higher lithium yield than standard plants, and 30% lower energy bills. A lithium mine in California reported saving $1.2 million in energy costs in the first year alone with a CET-Smart plant.

CET also walks the walk when it comes to sustainability. Their plants are made from 80% recycled steel, and they offset 100% of the carbon emissions from manufacturing by investing in wind farms. Even their packaging is recyclable. For companies that want to brag about their ESG credentials, CET is the go-to. As one sustainability director put it: "We didn't just meet our green goals—we exceeded them, and made money doing it. CET made that possible."

Not every mine has deep pockets, and Mountain West Extractors (MWE) gets that. Based in Boise, Idaho, they specialize in affordable, entry-level lithium tailing ore extraction plant options for small to mid-sized mines. Their MWE-1000 starts at under $500,000—a fraction of the cost of some competitors' plants—and still delivers solid results: up to 10 tons/hour processing with 85% lithium recovery.

How do they keep costs low? MWE focuses on simplicity. Their plants use tried-and-true water process equipment with off-the-shelf components (think pumps and filters you can buy at any industrial supply store), making repairs cheap and easy. They also skip the fancy AI and stick to manual controls—great for mines that have experienced operators who prefer to tweak settings themselves. A family-owned gold mine in Colorado, which had been struggling to afford tailings disposal, bought an MWE-1000 and now makes extra income selling lithium carbonate to battery manufacturers. "We went from paying to get rid of tailings to making $50,000 a month," the owner told us. "MWE didn't just sell us a plant—they saved our business."

MWE also offers flexible financing, including lease-to-own options, so mines don't have to fork over all the cash upfront. For new players in the tailings extraction game, that's a huge relief. As one customer put it: "I was worried we'd have to take out a second mortgage on the mine. MWE worked with us, and now we're profitable in 6 months. You don't find that kind of trust these days."

Based in San Francisco, California, PRLT is the tech startup of the bunch—founded in 2020 by a group of ex-Tesla and SpaceX engineers who wanted to apply EV battery tech to mining. Their claim to fame? The first lithium tailing ore extraction plant that can extract lithium and simultaneously recover other valuable metals like nickel and cobalt. It's like a Swiss Army knife for tailings—one plant, multiple payoffs.

Here's the science: Their PRLT-Multi plant uses a unique solvent that binds to lithium, nickel, and cobalt ions at different pH levels. By adjusting the acidity of the solution, the plant can separate each metal one by one, turning a single tailings pile into a treasure trove. For mines that have mixed tailings (like those from old copper or nickel mines), this is a game-changer. A nickel mine in Oregon, for example, was about to shut down because nickel prices dropped. PRLT installed an MPRLT-Multi plant, and now they extract lithium, nickel, AND cobalt—tripling their revenue stream and keeping the mine open.

PRLT also leans into their tech roots with a cloud-based monitoring system. Mine managers can check plant performance, lithium yields, and maintenance schedules from their phone—even if they're on vacation in Hawaii. The system also sends alerts if yields ｄｒｏｐ or if a part needs replacement, so issues are fixed before they become problems. It's mining meets Silicon Valley, and it's working. In just 3 years, PRLT has already sold 27 plants across the U.S. and Canada. Not bad for a new kid on the block.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, GPES might not be in the lithium hotbed of the West, but they've carved out a niche by focusing on cold-weather performance. Their lithium tailing ore extraction plant , the GPES-Arctic, is designed to operate in temperatures as low as -20°F—perfect for mines in Alaska, Canada, or the northern U.S. where winter shutdowns used to mean lost revenue.

How do they do it? The Arctic plant has insulated processing chambers and heated pipes to prevent freezing, and the water process equipment uses a low-freeze solvent blend that stays liquid even in subzero temps. They also added a "quick-thaw" feature that can warm up the plant from cold to operational in under an hour, so mines don't lose days waiting for equipment to defrost. An Alaska lithium mine, which used to shut down 5 months a year, now runs an Arctic plant year-round, boosting annual lithium production by 40%.

GPES also prides itself on being a one-stop shop. Beyond the extraction plant, they sell auxiliary equipment like tailings conveyors, storage silos, and even mobile labs for on-site lithium testing. It's like buying a car and getting the insurance, maintenance, and a roadside assistance plan all in one. For remote mines that don't have easy access to suppliers, that's invaluable. As one Alaska mine manager said: "In the winter, the nearest hardware store is 500 miles away. With GPES, we don't have to worry—they send us everything we need, right when we need it."

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, SSLR is all about serving the southern U.S.—a region with plenty of old mines and tailings but fewer lithium-specific suppliers. Their lithium tailing ore extraction plant , the SSLR-Southern Star, is optimized for the clay-heavy tailings common in states like Tennessee and Alabama. Clay is tricky because it sticks to lithium particles, making them hard to separate. SSLR solved that with a "clay-busting" pre-treatment step: tailings are first mixed with a mild detergent that breaks down clay, then sent through the extraction process. It's like adding fabric softener to laundry—suddenly, everything separates easily.

The Southern Star also shines when it comes to compliance. The South has some of the strictest water quality laws in the country (looking at you, Florida's Everglades), so SSLR built their water process equipment to exceed those standards. Their plants include a tertiary filtration system that removes even trace chemicals, ensuring water released back into the environment is cleaner than the original tailings. A phosphate mine in Florida, which was facing fines for polluted runoff, installed a Southern Star and now not only extracts lithium but has become a poster child for environmental responsibility in the state.

SSLR also offers something unique: a "revenue-sharing" model for small mines. Instead of paying upfront for a plant, mines can share a percentage of the lithium revenue with SSLR for 5 years. It's a low-risk way for mines to test the waters, and it's helped SSLR build a loyal customer base across the South. As one mine owner put it: "I didn't have to risk everything to try lithium extraction. SSLR believed in us, and now we're both profiting. That's partnership, not just business."

Rounding out our list is NTI, based in Chicago, Illinois—a company that's all about pushing the envelope. Their latest innovation? A lithium tailing ore extraction plant that runs on solar power. The NTI-SolarFlux uses a combination of solar panels and battery storage to power the entire extraction process, making it carbon-neutral and perfect for off-grid mines. In sunny states like New Mexico and Arizona, the SolarFlux can even generate extra electricity to sell back to the grid, turning a cost center into a revenue stream.

But solar isn't the only trick up NTI's sleeve. Their plants also use dry process equipment with ultrasonic separation—high-frequency sound waves that shake lithium particles loose from tailings. It's like using a subwoofer to blast apart rock, but precise enough to avoid damaging the lithium. The result? A plant that's quieter, uses less energy, and extracts lithium from even the finest tailings particles. A uranium mine in New Mexico, which had tailings so fine they looked like flour, installed a SolarFlux and now extracts 89% pure lithium hydroxide—all while running on 100% solar power.

NTI also has a knack for storytelling. They produce case studies and video tours of their plants, making it easy for mines to see exactly how the technology works. Their website even has a "Lithium 101" section for newbies, breaking down the extraction process in plain English. In an industry that's often jargon-heavy, that transparency is refreshing. As one customer put it: "I'm not a scientist, but NTI explained everything so clearly that I felt confident investing. Now I'm the one explaining it to my investors—and they're just as impressed."