Century Lithium Corp. (TSX-V:LCE, OTCQX:CYDVF) said test results from Saltworks Technologies have once again confirmed battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2 CO3) from direct lithium extraction (DLE) eluent produced at the company’s lithium extraction pilot plant in the Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
The company said that the test results show consistency in the composition of both the DLE eluent produced by the pilot plant earlier in the year and the resulting Li2 CO3 product produced by Saltworks, achieving 99.871% content compared to 99.875% reported previously.
The company also reported an improved lithium grade from 1,430 parts per million (ppm) to 6,780 ppm, an increase in the ratio of lithium to total dissolved solids (TDS) from 0.018 to 0.085, and a reduction in sodium from 25,850 ppm to 8,220 ppm, which it noted was achieved following the introduction of Koch Technology Solutions’ Li-Pro system into the DLE stage at the pilot plant.
The increase in lithium grade and the lithium to TDS ratio is positive for the size and costs of the lithium carbonate production portion of the lithium extraction process at the project, Century Lithium noted.
"It is very positive to see consistency in our high-purity, 99.87%, lithium carbonate product grades from our pilot plant this year," Century Lithium CEO Bill Willoughby said in a statement.
"The highlight though, is the almost five-fold increase in lithium grade in the concentrated lithium solution generated at the pilot plant. This was achieved through collaboration with Koch Technology Solutions and their Li-Pro system, and its integration into Century Lithium's chloride-based leaching process."
The company said that testing with Koch Technology Solutions is anticipated to continue throughout the third quarter, as it collects information to prepare an engineering design and cost estimate for a full-scale deployment of Li-Pro system which will supplement Century Lithium’s feasibility study.
Century Lithium is an advanced-stage lithium company, focused on developing its 100%-owned Clayton Valley Lithium project in west-central Nevada, USA.
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