Insights & News
Neometals 70% owned lithium chemical processing technology (“ELi™”) purifies lithium chloride to specification required for electrolysis trial to commence;
Feedstock for purification was from a salar brine concentrate from Argentina; and
Pilot trials are being co-funded by Bondalti group, whilst a new co-operation agreement is being negotiated to cover proposed Demonstration Plant in Portugal.
Innovative battery materials recycler, Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT & AIM: NMT) (“Neometals” or “the Company”), is pleased to announce successful completion of the purification phase (“Purification Testwork”) of its Lithium Chemical pilot trial (“Pilot”). The Purification Testwork, conducted on a brine feed source, has confirmed earlier bench-scale testing by removing >97% of brine feed source impurities. This supports production of a purified brine solution that sits comfortably within specification for subsequent electrolysis stage of the Company’s majority owned ELi™ process (“ELi™ Technology”).
Neometals’ Lithium Chemical business unit is commercialising the ELi™ Technology owned by Reed Advanced Materials Pty Ltd (“RAM”) (70% NMT, 30% Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN)). RAM is co-funding the Pilot with Bondalti group, Portugal’s largest chlor-alkali chemical producer and held by José de Mello Group, one of Portugal’s largest corporate groups.
The ELi™ process comprises brine purification, followed by electrolysis where electricity is used to convert lithium chloride solutions into lithium hydroxide and/or lithium carbonate. The purification Pilot, undertaken by a third party laboratory, processed an actual South American salar brine concentrate.
The pilot has confirmed earlier bench-scale testing and successfully removed from the brine the impurities that are impediments to optimum electrolysis performance. Brine analysis “before” (unpurified brine feed) and “after” (purified brine) is summarised as follows:
ELi™ has several advantages over conventional processes including lower operating expenditures by substituting electricity for chemical reagents, higher product purity and a smaller CO2 footprint. The Purification Testwork successfully removed impurities that can impede electrolysis efficiency (consumption). Higher and stable electrical current efficiency in turn extends electrolysis membrane durability (useful life), reducing maintenance time and cost and increasing the end-product grade.
Next steps
The schedule for next stage activities is as follows:
Background – Lithium Refinery(“LR”) Project
With the original planned pilot activities nearing conclusion and Bondalti’s parent incorporating a dedicated lithium subsidiary, Lifthium Energy S.A., RAM and Bondalti Group are continuing to co-fund the agreed pilot plant activities while a new cooperation agreement is being negotiated in parallel1. The evaluation activities completion of an engineering cost study (“LR ECS”) and pilot-scale metallurgical test-work (“Pilot Trials”).
