GCICleanTech announces further optimisation for its Direct Lithium Extraction process
CleanTech Lithium PLC () has completed due diligence on the use of industrial forward osmosis (iFO) as an alternative to using a standard thermal evaporator for eluate concentration in its pilot plant conversion stage.
CleanTech is developing a direct lithium extraction project in Chile.
iFO achieves higher water recovery and up to 60% lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions compared to using conventional thermal evaporators.
It also has high efficiency when utilising solar thermal for power supply
An iFO demonstration unit, provided by Forward Water Technology based in Canada, is being prepared for shipment from Toronto to the facilities of Conductive Energy in Chicago, USA.
Conductive Energy will convert the eluate produced from CleanTech’s DLE pilot plant in Copiapó, Chile, using feed brine from Laguna Verde, into battery grade lithium carbonate.
An initial volume of 88m3 of concentrated eluate, equal to approximately one tonne of lithium carbonate equivalent, is at Conductive Energy´s facility, with transport and commissioning of the iFO unit expected to take approximately two weeks.
"Our team has undertaken a tremendous amount of work on selecting and optimising the DLE process for the Laguna Verde project, and this has extended to the downstream conversion process where we are working with Conductive Energy,” said Steve Kesler, executive chairman of CleanTech Lithium.
“Previous test-work confirmed that a downstream process has been developed that will efficiently produce battery-grade lithium carbonate for the Laguna Verde project at pilot scale, including use of forward osmosis which we are investigating as an alternative for eluate concentration. This has the potential to lower energy consumption, CO2 emissions and both capital and operating costs."
View from VOX
This progress continues to make CleanTech Lithium a leader in exploration and development of a DLE-based project in Chile and will provide the ability to produce large test samples of lithium carbonate to potential offtake partners seeking product qualification. Combine that with the strong local support CleanTech has been able to garner, and the company looks in a strong position.
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