CleanTech Lithium, a pioneering company in the exploration and development of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) projects in Chile, has achieved a milestone in its DLE pilot plant in Copiapó, Chile. The plant successfully produced 88m3 of concentrated eluate, equivalent to approximately one tonne of lithium carbonate, over 384 hours of operation with 14 cycles completed. This marks the completion of the first stage of production from the pilot plant, demonstrating promising results:
- The DLE adsorbent achieved a remarkable lithium recovery rate of around 95% from the brine, with a total recovery rate of approximately 88%.
- High impurity rejection rates resulted in a low impurity eluate suitable for downstream conversion.
- The concentrated eluate is being shipped in four batches to Conductive Energy facilities in Chicago, USA, for conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Shipment Details of Concentrated Eluate:
| Shipment | Eluate Volume | Eluate Li Grade | LCE (kg) | Shipment Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24m3 | 2008 mg/L | 257 | Arrived process facility |
| 2 | 24m3 | 2360 mg/L | 301 | In Shipment |
| 3 | 24m3 | 2325 mg/L | 297 | In shipment |
| 4 | 17.5m3 | 2464 mg/L | 230 | At departure port |
| Targeted | 90m3 | 2000 mg/L | 1022 | – |
| Total Achieved | 88m3 | 2289 mg/L | 1085 | – |
The eluate underwent conversion test-work at Conductive Energy, resulting in multiple samples of lithium carbonate with 99.75% purity. This success confirms the efficiency and repeatability of the process in producing battery-grade lithium for the Laguna Verde project from DLE eluate at the pilot scale.
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of CleanTech Lithium PLC, expressed his satisfaction with the results, emphasizing the company’s ability to produce low-impurity battery-grade lithium from the Laguna Verde brine project. He highlighted the collaboration with partners in the downstream process, Forward Water and Conductive Energy, to showcase the entire DLE process from brine to the final lithium product.
The optimized downstream process will now be applied to the initial volume of concentrated eluate, producing significant test sample volumes of battery-grade lithium carbonate for evaluation by potential strategic partners. As the Chilean government reviews the feasibility of lithium projects, this achievement positions CleanTech Lithium as a leading company in the lithium sector.
The completion of the re-injection well in September will pave the way for Montgomery and Associates to finalize the reserve report for the Laguna Verde project by October 2024.
In conclusion, CleanTech Lithium’s successful production of battery-grade lithium demonstrates its commitment to sustainable lithium projects and positions it as a key player in the evolving clean energy transition.
