Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) has been recognised for its breakthrough Sileach™ processing approach for recovering lithium from silicate minerals winning a grant from the Australian Federal Government.
Under the auspices of the Entrepreneur’s Programme run by the Department of Industry and Science, Lithium Australia has been granted an Innovations Connections Grant.
Under the terms of the grant, Lithium Australia will partner with ANSTO Minerals, a division of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
In March, the company began to fast track pilot plant testing of the Coolgardie lithium deposit and its 100% owned processing technique, Sileach™ for the recovery of lithium.
The initial program will focus on the application of Lithium Australia’s Sileach™ process to aid the recovery of lithium from micas.
The Sileach™ process is designed to recover lithium from silicates without the expensive roasting step that has long been the main stay of the lithium recovery process.
Lithium Australia managing director, Adrian Griffin said:
“Lithium Australia’s Sileach™ process has the potential to catapult Australia into the forefront of the lithium battery boom by supplying optimal grade and purity material from low-energy production of lithium chemicals.
"These can be produced from a range of minerals including spodumene and mica. We welcome the Federal and WA Government’s support to be innovative, and this “ideas boom” ideally suits our project development goals.”
In March Lithium Australia received approval by the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum to recover up to 1,500 tonnes of Lepidolite ore for pilot testing of lithium micas using the 100% owned Sileach™ process.
Key advantages of the Sileach™ process include energy efficiency, as it is undertaken at atmospheric pressure; and versatile as it is applicable to all silicates.
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