Sounds like many steps...doesn't sound to me that they've arrived at a workable solution?
The entire Industry is looking for a workable,profitable way to extract lithium from brine in a shorter time frame than simple solar evaporation while conserving water.
Albemarle has been evaporating their brine out in their ponds out there since the 60s,and I'm sure they're interested in a better solution.
They're pumping a hell of a lot of brine out of that desert aquifer...saw it with my own eyes.