R-stage:\u00a0 Similar electrodialysis principles convert the lithium chloride into lithium hydroxide using off-the-shelf technology in a proprietary configuration.\u00a0 If required, the resulting lithium hydroxide can then be converted to lithium carbonate using a novel carbon-negative method.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

Both stages are designed to operate entirely using electrodialysis, a commercially proven technology that has been deployed worldwide since the 1950s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proof of Concept<\/strong><\/p>\n

Validating these concepts, DLE-R produced battery grade lithium hydroxide from a range of lithium sources (salar brines, geothermal oilfield brines, spodumene leach) and geographies (US, Argentina and Australia) using no water, no chemicals and minimal energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

This proof of concept included production of 99.9% pure lithium hydroxide from a contaminated brine comprising less than 60ppm lithium.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nImage: DLE-R results<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

ElectraLith CEO Charlie McGill said: \u201cWe\u2019re particularly excited about the Paradox Basin Utah result, where DLE-R produced 99.9% pure lithium hydroxide from Mandrake\u2019s geothermal oilfield brines without water, an increasingly scarce resource in the broader Colorado River Basin.\u00a0 This, coupled with the production of lithium hydroxide from a brine with less than 60ppm, demonstrates DLE-R\u2019s ability to unlock otherwise unviable strategic reserves in the United States and Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mandrake CEO James Allchurch commented: \u201cThe outstanding performance of the DLE-R process is a critical step forward for Mandrake as we seek to commercialise our expansive Utah Lithium Project.\u00a0 DLE-R is perfectly suited to the water chemistry of the Paradox Basin and we look forward to partnering with ElectraLith in processing larger volumes of brine from the Utah Lithium Project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Technoeconomics<\/strong><\/p>\n

DLE-R\u2019s proof of concept coincides with the delivery of a Technoeconomic Analysis Report conducted by Worley Consulting Pty Ltd (\u201c<\/span>Worley<\/strong>\u201d).\u00a0 This American Association of Cost Engineers (\u201c<\/span>AACE<\/strong>\u201d) Class 5 report follows an eight-month review leveraging Worley\u2019s global expertise in the US, Canada and Australia, as well as input from Rio Tinto.<\/span><\/p>\n

DLE-R\u2019s proof of concept also coincides with the delivery of a Process Model performed by Dr Mike Dry of Arithmetek Inc., a globally recognised expert in the field of process and early-stage cost modelling, as well as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed by Minviro.\u00a0 Minviro is a global sustainability and LCA authority with offices in the UK, Australia and China.<\/span><\/p>\n

IP Group Australia Managing Director and ElectraLith Chair Mike Molinari commented: \u201cThese reports provide an important validation of ElectraLith\u2019s revolutionary DLE-R process.\u00a0 As we enter the prototyping stage, our relationships with these world-class consultants will be vital to delivering on DLE-R\u2019s potential to reshape the lithium industry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rio Tinto Chief Advisor for Battery Minerals and ElectraLith Non-Executive Director Travis Baroni said: \u201cWe invested in ElectraLith to support their DLE-R technology and we are pleased that it is showing real potential to significantly reduce the economic and environmental costs of lithium production. \u00a0 We\u2019re looking forward to trialling and testing the first DLE-R prototype at our Rincon Project in Argentina with the ElectraLith team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

About ElectraLith<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

ElectraLith is <\/span>unlocking a green future with the cleanest, fastest and most efficient method of extracting and refining lithium, the primary element of a sustainable future. ElectraLith\u2019s cutting-edge DLE-R technology revolutionises t5he DLE and refining processes by extracting and producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide in a single, scalable and modular step. As opposed to other DLE processes, DLE-R fully eliminates the need for water and chemicals and can run entirely on renewable energy. Backed by Rio Tinto, IP Group Australia and Monash University, ElectraLith is based in Melbourne, Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n