Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE, OTCQB:LLKKF)’s modular demonstration plant designed and built by the engineering team at Lilac Solutions Inc, has been dispatched from California, US, to the Kachi Lithium Project in Argentina.
The disruptive lithium processing technology will cut operating costs and boost lithium recovery from Kachi Project brines while protecting scarce water resources.
Lilac Solutions, Lake's technical partner. assembled the ion-exchange modules and supporting equipment for the demonstration plant within five x 40 feet (12-metre) shipping containers.
The modular design allows for a 'plug and play' approach, once brine feed, power and reagents are connected.
Truly disruptive technology
Lilac chief executive officer Dave Snydacker said: “Our technology is truly disruptive; we’ve taken ion exchange, a non-mining technology solution that is ubiquitous in the water treatment industry, and with cutting-edge innovations have created a unique technology for lithium extraction, which we strongly believe will reduce operating costs and boost lithium recovery for production of lithium chemicals from the Kachi brines.
“Relative to conventional technology, our production process is lower cost and offers higher lithium recovery rates of 80-90% to produce battery quality lithium carbonate, while also protecting the local environment, including water resources.
“Our process is modular, produces high purity lithium, and can be ramped up quickly from pilot to commercial stages – our equity stake ensures a rapid commercialization of the Lilac technology at what is a globally significant lithium resource.
“We’ve worked extensively with this brine, generating the data needed for engineering studies, and it is a fantastic fit for the Lilac technology."
Inform final engineering design
The demonstration plant will operate for around three to four months to produce lithium chloride (eluate) representing 2.5 tonnes of lithium carbonate.
This will be converted into high purity battery-quality lithium carbonate for potential offtakers and battery qualification later in the year.
The demonstration plant operations on-site will also inform final engineering design prior to construction of the commercial-scale project.
Meanwhile, test-work at Lilac Solutions’ facility in California continues to produce the data required for the definitive feasibility study and lithium carbonation test-work continues at Hazen Research in Colorado.
Shares higher
Lake shares today have been as much as 8.21% higher to A$1.055 while the company's market cap is approximately A$1.27 billion.