China debuts world-first rubidium/caesium extraction from lithium waste

China's CAS Institute of Process Engineering has launched a 500-tonne-per-year demonstration line in Jiangxi province, the world's first continuous tower extraction of low-grade rubidium and caesium from lithium waste. This reduces reliance on imports of critical metals used in aerospace, quantum computing, and new energy. The breakthrough signals a potential supply-chain shift for these niche but strategic materials.