One World Lithium Inc. (CSE:OWLI, OTCQB:OWRDF) said it has signed a new license agreement with the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Laboratory to research and commercially evaluate the DOE's lithium-related patents.
The agreement covers the Selective Lithium Recovery as Lithium Carbonate from Natural Brine and any patents stemming from them, according to Vancouver-based OWL.
During the initial one-year option period, OWL may enter negotiations for an exclusive license within the agreed field of use, which are naturally occurring brines with the exception of sea water and geothermal brines.
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The option period began on March 2, 2022, with extensions available for an additional period of time.
OWL told shareholders that the DOE patent is an advanced direct lithium extraction (DLE) process for the extraction of lithium from natural brines, rapidly generating lithium carbonate. The method uses unique carbon injection-mixing techniques to directly precipitate lithium carbonate in brines.
OWL added that the process does not require solvent, electrodes, and membranes, but only uses carbon dioxide which can be sourced from industrial waste streams or ambient air. It “significantly” reduces capital and operation costs, process time, energy requirements, and overall carbon dioxide emissions.
The process is fully operational at the brine source, eliminating transportation of brines to a chemical processing facility to form lithium carbonate. If the technology is deployed, it could reduce dependence on foreign lithium sources, the company said.
"This license agreement will allow OWL to work closely with the DOE which may enhance the company's ability to find lithium properties of merit that may benefit from using the company's commercialized Separation Technology from DOE and NETL,” OWL CEO Doug Ford said in a statement.
OWL intends to license or joint venture its technology to current and future lithium carbonate producers.
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