Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) has commenced Phase 2 test work of the “Solution purification and valuable byproducts formation during the production of battery-grade lithium” project.
The project, known as MRIWA Project M479 is with Venus Metals (ASX: VMC) and funded with research grants from the Western Australian state government.
The program commenced in late 2016 where Phase 1 focused on fundamental controls of Sileach™ process chemistry.
Sileach™ is a lithium extraction process owned by Lithium Australia.
The second phase will focus on optimisation and alternatives to add further value to the process.
Furthermore, process optimisation studies, sole funded by Lithium Australia, continue outside the scope of the project.
Where appropriate, results from these external research modules will be incorporated into future plant design.
Adrian Griffin, managing director, commented: “Lithium Australia is proud to be at the forefront of global innovation and pleased to be sponsored by both the state government of Western Australia and the Australian federal government.
“Processing technology of this type has been sadly neglected in the lithium industry and at Lithium Australia we see the development of such technologies being of national importance – something that will establish Australia as the focus of the energy revolution.”