Cypress Development Corp (TSX-V:CYP, OTCQB:CYDVF) has announced results from its Lithium Extraction Pilot Plant in Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
The interim test results were derived from the data acquired during the 3-, 7-, and 14-day continuous operation events, which utilized claystone from the company's Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Clayton Valley, Nevada.
Results yielded a concentration of lithium in an intermediate solution product containing 2,700 parts per million (ppm) lithium with insignificant impurities.
This is in line with expectations and similar to the data used in the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), effective August 5, 2020, but amended on March 15, 2021. And the information will be incorporated in the company's upcoming Feasibility Study currently under the direction of Wood PLC.
READ: Cypress Development names engineering giant Wood as lead author for feasibility study for Clayton Valley project
"All primary components of the Pilot Plant are operating to design. The lithium extraction and recovery areas are meeting our expectations and we are very pleased with the optimization changes completed so far, as we are now consistently producing an Intermediate Solution containing 2,700 ppm lithium with negligible impurities," Cypress CEO Bill Willoughby said in a statement.
"Our team is working on our Pilot Plant's evaporation process to allow us to take our Intermediate Solution to a high-grade concentrated lithium solution, which is essentially our final step on-site. We expect this process to be completed and be tested in the second quarter."
Highlights of the results include:
- Concentration of lithium into an Intermediate Solution containing 2,700 ppm lithium with insignificant impurities
- Overall extraction rates of lithium, within the washed tails, are between 83% and 85%
- Lithium extractions from the ion exchange in the lithium recovery area indicate separation efficiencies for lithium and major cations exceed 98%
- Sodium and potassium removal in the lithium recovery area has approached 80% with less than 0.5% lithium entrainment
- Overall impurity removal, specifically, magnesium, calcium, iron, and aluminum all exceed 99%
- Work continues at the Pilot Plant evaporation process stage to allow the integration of the treatment of the Intermediate Solution to produce a high-grade concentrated lithium solution ready for off-site conversion to a final lithium product
Cypress said results so far have identified preliminary extraction rates of lithium within the washed tails are between 83% and 85%. Lithium extractions from the Lionex process are 98%. Impurity removal of magnesium, calcium, iron, and aluminum are all above 99%. Sodium and potassium removal in the lithium recovery area is 80% with less than 0.5% lithium entrainment. The remaining sodium and potassium are inconsequential to the final process.
Over the coming months, the company said it will continue to run tests to further optimize its Pilot Plant and enhance its process flowsheet.
Plant update
The Pilot Plant is undergoing modifications on an ongoing basis to further improve throughput and efficiencies. These modifications include the flowsheet with the intention of simplifying the impurity removal steps prior to lithium recovery.
The company said it has received most of the remaining analyses of the 1,400 samples collected during continuous operating runs. These results are undergoing compilation and review with respect to flow rates and mass balances in the various areas of the Pilot Plant and will form the basis of further optimization studies.
Within the lithium recovery area, the results exceed expectations, with separation efficiencies for lithium and major cations exceeding 98% and have confirmed the successful performance, thus far, of Chemionex's Lionex lithium recovery and concentration (direct lithium extraction or DLE) process.
Further, changes were made to the tailings handling. Based on the process, all recovered salt (NaCl), process solution, and water is recycled back into the system. No lithium recovery effects were noted with recycled solids and solutions. Changes to the tailing dewatering system have allowed lower moisture content for the final tails to less than 40%. Further changes are being made to allow the washing of additional lithium from the final tails.
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