Historically, oil drillers have disposed of the brine by pumping it again into the bottom. Nevertheless, the growing demand for lithium from electrical car (EV) producers has reworked this once-waste brine right into a invaluable useful resource.
As a substitute of concentrating lithium by evaporating brine in massive swimming pools, DLE pulls the brine instantly right into a processing plant, the place it undergoes a collection of chemical processes to separate the lithium earlier than being injected again underground.
This course of produces a lithium carbonate in a matter of hours, in comparison with the 18-month common it at present takes utilizing evaporative ponds, and with out the necessity to transport concentrates to a separate facility.
“The Demo challenge is a vital step in the direction of progressing the Clearwater challenge, offering samples to potential strategic companions and an general development for lithium belongings on a business scale in Alberta,” CEO Chris Doornbos mentioned in a information launch.
The Clearwater challenge is predicted to generate 20,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide yearly over a 20-year life, in line with a 2020 preliminary financial evaluation.
Shares of E3 Lithium rose 1% by 10:40 a.m. in Toronto Thursday EDT. The lithium developer has a market capitalization of C$75 million ($54 million).