CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL, OTCQX:CTLHF) has described results from brine processed at its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) pilot plant at Laguna Verde in Chile as “highly encouraging”.
A high-quality eluate was produced with a sample now sent to the US for test work on a process to convert into battery-grade lithium carbonate
Steve Kesler, executive chairman, of CleanTech Lithium, said: "The analysis of the eluate shows the DLE performance has exceeded our expectations, concentrating the lithium grade of the feed brine by 3.6 times while achieving high recovery rates and low impurities.
“The first full batch of 24m3 of concentrated eluate is scheduled to be shipped in the coming weeks.
“The pilot plant has met its design capacity capable of producing 1 tonne of LCE per month, positioning CleanTech Lithium to produce significant quantities of lithium product samples for potential strategic partners.”