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Highlights
- Anson Resources' pilot program achieved a 98% lithium recovery rate with over 99% rejection of contaminants.
- The high ratio of lithium to dissolved solids at the Green River pilot plant is expected to reduce costs for lithium carbonate processing.
- The pilot generated sufficient data to secure process guarantees for a 10,000tpa production plant.
Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) has significantly advanced the potential of direct lithium extraction technology. The Green River pilot in Utah boasted an average lithium recovery of 98% with over 99% rejection of impurities. This remarkable achievement was facilitated by the pilot program in collaboration with KOCH Technology Solutions, which delivered all technical requirements. Freshly extracted lithium-rich brine from the Bosydaba #1 well was processed to produce high concentration and high purity lithium chloride eluate at the onsite DLE plant.
Cost Efficiency in Lithium Purification
The outstanding results in lithium recovery and impurity rejection mean that further purification into 99.5% purity lithium carbonate—vital for electric vehicle batteries—comes with lowered costs. The process requires minimal purification, which translates to reduced expenses due to less need for evaporation during the battery-grade purification stage. The successful operation over seven months resulted in the generation of approximately 43,500 gallons (165,000 liters) of lithium chloride, meeting or surpassing specifications required by downstream processors.
Optimized Operations and Future Prospects
The pilot plant achieved a lithium-to-dissolved solids ratio (Li:TDS) up to 0.129, with an average of 0.126—significantly higher than the 0.08 ratio deemed suitable for downstream processing. A higher Li:TDS ratio suggests reduced costs in the lithium purification process, as less water needs removal before lithium carbonate precipitation. Additionally, the program aided in fine-tuning control steps, finding the optimal balance for recovery, impurity removal, water usage, and concentration under diverse climate conditions, including freezing temperatures.
Path to Commercial Scaling
KTS has indicated that the pilot generated enough data to establish process guarantees, essential for securing debt funding for a 10,000tpa production plant utilizing Li-Pro DLE technology. Anson Resources has consistently pursued efficiency in both technical execution and economic feasibility, focusing on the financial viability and success of the Green River lithium project. The completion of the ‘Technical Annex’ is anticipated shortly, promising substantial contributions to the project's financial success.
