British Lithium Ltd applied for two more patents, making a total of three in less than three months, as it continues to work to sustainably extract lithium from the mica in granite.
The Cornwall-based company said the latest applications are part of an innovative hydro-metallurgical process that uses salt, rather than acid, to extract lithium, the key ingredient in making electric vehicle batteries.
“Our research and development strategy is focused on finding effective acid-free solutions to extracting and processing lithium,” said Dr Klaas Peter van der Wielen, British Lithium’s head of metallurgy. “The methods we use minimise waste and help protect the environment.”
The latest applications come less than two months after the company filed its first patent.
With the help of £3m Innovate UK funding, the company is also building a pilot plant where the lithium will be recovered and processed using recyclable salt as a reagent, rather than toxic chemicals. The pilot plant is in the early stages of construction and is scheduled to become operational in the last quarter of this year.
“We are making extraordinary advances in our innovative methodology and are very grateful for the UK government’s financial assistance to date,” said British Lithium chief executive Andrew Smith.
“Our aim is to develop a hard rock quarry and integrated refinery capable of annually producing 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate with the most forward-thinking technological and sustainable solutions possible.
“This is another milestone moment in achieving our ambitions.”