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Highlights:
- CleanTech Lithium installs its industrial forward osmosis (iFO) unit, enhancing lithium conversion efficiency.
- The iFO unit is set to process one tonne of lithium carbonate from Laguna Verde’s brine concentrate in Chicago.
- The iFO technology reduces water use, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions, aligning with CleanTech’s sustainability goals.
CleanTech Lithium PLC (LSE:CTL) has announced a significant step forward in its lithium production efforts, as its new industrial forward osmosis (iFO) unit has arrived and is being installed at Conductive Energy’s facility in Chicago, US. This cutting-edge unit will facilitate the conversion of lithium-rich eluate concentrate from CleanTech's Laguna Verde pilot plant into battery-grade lithium carbonate, the final step required before large-scale downstream conversion can begin.
The initial batch of 88 cubic meters of concentrated eluate, equating to roughly one tonne of lithium carbonate, is already at the Chicago facility, and the conversion process is set to begin shortly. By integrating iFO technology, CleanTech Lithium aims to achieve higher water recovery and energy efficiency compared to traditional thermal evaporation processes.
CleanTech’s adoption of iFO offers significant environmental and operational advantages, underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainable lithium production. Unlike conventional thermal evaporators, which are water- and energy-intensive, iFO technology enhances water recovery while substantially lowering energy requirements and CO2 emissions, a vital benefit as lithium production grows in demand for sustainable practices.
This development aligns with CleanTech’s strategic use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. By applying DLE to produce lithium from brine, CleanTech not only optimizes the production process but also limits the environmental footprint of lithium extraction, a factor increasingly important to battery and electric vehicle manufacturers focused on reducing lifecycle emissions.
CleanTech Lithium’s operational advancements with Conductive Energy position the company at the forefront of efficient and eco-friendly lithium production. This latest move supports CleanTech’s broader mission to supply high-purity lithium to the global market with sustainability as a core component.
