Century Lithium Announces Milestone in Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Production Through Partnership with Saltworks

Century Lithium is delighted to share the outcomes of testing conducted at Saltworks Technologies, Inc. situated in Richmond, Canada, along with notable progress in generating high-purity lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) at its Lithium Extraction Facility in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, USA. The testing endeavors at Saltworks involved utilizing solutions extracted from claystone through the leaching process at Century Lithium's Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada. These solutions were subsequently processed at the company's Pilot Plant using direct lithium extraction (DLE) techniques to yield an intermediate concentrated lithium solution, referred to as the DLE eluent.

Bill Willoughby, the President and CEO of Century Lithium, expressed enthusiasm over the consistent high-purity lithium carbonate product grades obtained from the Pilot Plant throughout the year. An even more significant highlight is the nearly fivefold augmentation in lithium grade observed in the concentrated lithium solution produced at the Pilot Plant. This remarkable improvement was made possible through a collaborative effort with Koch Technology Solutions (KTS), where KTS' Li-Pro TM system was integrated into Century Lithium's chloride-based leaching process. The successful integration was previously highlighted in a news release on August 9, 2023.

This strategic partnership with KTS and the incorporation of the Li-Pro TM system into the DLE phase of the Pilot Plant have resulted in a substantial increase in the grades of the DLE eluent, representing the intermediate lithium product solution. This augmentation in lithium grade holds significant promise, not only in terms of enhancing lithium carbonate production at the Clayton Valley Lithium Project but also in its potential to influence various aspects of the extraction process.

The enhanced lithium grade and the lithium-to-total dissolved solids (Li:TDS) ratio carry positive implications for the size and cost dynamics of lithium carbonate production within the lithium extraction process. In the context of Saltworks' operational framework, these elevated values translate to a reduced volume of solution to be processed and a corresponding decrease in the amount of water that requires evaporation prior to lithium carbonate precipitation. Furthermore, the impact extends to the recycling of solutions in different stages of the processing plant, fostering operational efficiency.

It's important to note that the insights gleaned from the Pilot Plant's operations, including the collaborative efforts with KTS and recent adjustments at Saltworks' laboratory, serve as valuable supplementary information for the existing Feasibility Study for the project. Notably, the Feasibility Study was initially founded on a Li:TDS ratio of 0.02.

Within Saltworks' operational framework, the target lithium grade for precipitation falls within the range of 10,000 to 20,000 parts per million (ppm), equivalent to 10-20 grams per liter (g/L). Through collaborative initiatives with KTS at the DLE stage of the Pilot Plant, preliminary assessments have revealed lithium solution grades exceeding 8,000 ppm in the DLE eluent. Ongoing efforts within the DLE segment aim to further enhance lithium grades in the solution, presenting opportunities to reduce solution volumes and potentially eliminate a significant evaporation step from the process.

In tandem with the existing Feasibility Study, Century Lithium is actively pursuing these prospects for enhanced efficiency and reduced costs in collaboration with Saltworks. The convergence of innovative approaches and strategic partnerships underscores the company's commitment to refining and optimizing the lithium extraction process for the future.