Forward Water Technologies (TSX-V:FWTC) Corp said it has entered into an agreement for Cornish Lithium Ltd to fund trials of its Forward Osmosis (FO) technology on Cornish geothermal waters.
The deal follows favourable initial results that demonstrated the potential of Forward Water’s FO technology to increase lithium concentrations of Cornish geothermal waters. Initial computer modelling and FO simulation testing delivered positive results in concentrating lithium by as much as a factor of 10, Forward Water said.
Locating and developing lithium resources is crucial in the global transition to clean energy and Cornish Lithium is focused on producing sustainable low-carbon lithium from sub-surface geothermal waters found to circulate across Cornwall.
READ: Forward Water Technologies says it is a finalist in the MABC Mining Innovation Challenge: Reduce Water Use
"We are excited to assess the positive impact our technology could have for the mission Cornish Lithium has charted out for lithium recovery,” said Forward Water president and CEO Howie Honeyman in a statement.
“In being part of this effort Forward Water will continue to be a leader in sustainable water treatment and re-use."
Forward Water said it will commence a pilot trial at its Sarnia Engineering facility for Cornish Lithium, in assessing FO in enhancing lithium recovery.
“This testing engagement will provide precise and larger data sets in which to optimize and validate large-scale commercial operations,” the company noted.
“By using Forward Waters low energy FO technology to concentrate these brines, it is believed that the delivery of higher lithium concentrations will allow for greater efficiencies and lower operating costs to that of current processing methods.”
Additionally, as part of the geothermal waters concentration process, clean, pure water is produced, having beneficial reuse in other industrial processes.
Forward Water is a publicly-traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Forward Osmosis technology. The company's technology allows for the reduction of challenging waste streams simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release.
The company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com