Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has appointed Veolia Water Technologies Inc. to conduct test work on producing higher value lithium products from its concentrated lithium chloride eluate.
Test work aims to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate using samples taken from Anson’s flagship Paradox Brine Project in Utah, US.
The production of final products from the highly concentrated lithium eluate is the final stage of the process flowsheet.
Anson has already produced lithium carbonate samples for potential off-take customers and this test work aims to do the same for lithium hydroxide.
Paradox could offer multiple lithium products
The successful production of lithium hydroxide will provide Anson with the opportunity to engage in discussions and negotiations with a greater number of potential customers by offering a choice of products.
By completing the test work with Veolia, Anson will be able to design a plant that is flexible in meeting the changing needs of the market and take advantage of higher product prices as those changes occur.
Notably, the equipment being used to produce samples can be upscaled to be included in a commercial production plant.
Data to feed into study
The data generated from this processing test work will be fed into the planned preliminary economic assessment (PEA) or pre-feasibility study (PFS) that is scheduled to be conducted in the March quarter of 2020.
Recently, Anson commenced a review to consider an early cash flow opportunity from a modular bromine plant at Paradox.
Subject to the current bromine test work being completed, Anson believes this is the next logical step.
A modular bromine plant could produce early cash flow and save on development costs due to processing benefits.
The data generated from the bromine test work will also be feed into a PEA or PFS.