LG to double RO membrane capacity with automated plant

[Courtesy of LG Chem Ltd.]

LG Chem Ltd. has invested in automation for its reverse osmosis (RO) membrane plant in Chungju, North Chungcheong province, a production base filled with production robots, the chemical company said.

The Seoul-headquartered company also spent 124.6 billion won ($89.5 million) on building a new plant near the first factory, with construction slated to be completed by July 2025.

RO membrane refers to a semipermeable membrane used in water treatment. The global water treatment market is valued at about 6.4 trillion won, and RO membranes account for about one-third of the market.

After completing its second plant, LG Chem’s RO membrane division will double its production capacity to 800,000 pieces annually. “When the second plant is commercially operational in 2028, annual sales are expected to reach 400 billion won, double that of 2023,” Hyung hoon, head of LG Water Solutions, said.

LG Chem has been working with Korea University since 2023 to extract lithium more efficiently as well as developing RO membranes for next-generation direct lithium extraction (DLE) process that extracts lithium directly from a salt lake. The innovative technology can significantly reduce the lead time for concentrating lithium from months to hours.

“We are considering partnering with mining companies,” Hyung said. “The potential partnership could help us secure offtake contracts for produced lithium in exchange for a stable and low-cost supply of RO membranes for lithium extraction.”