https://patents.justia.com/inventor/pablo-alurraldePablo is...

https://patents.justia.com/inventor/pablo-alurralde

Pablo is co-credited alongside Vijay Mehta as the inventors but the patent belongs to FMC.
So no.
Pablo himself only comes with his expertise in commercial lithium production.

I think that Pablo is just using the existing known modern processes and techniques in an efficient way.
Simpicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Doing just what is needed in the right place and right time to get the results.

Evaporation/Percipitation in the ponds to some of the work and then
Jerko mentioned Ion-exchange and resins for example as part of the flowsheet.