Standard Lithium Ltd.’s new demonstration plant, located in Arkansas, has begun operations with the first commercial-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) column in North America, using Koch Technology Solutions’ Li-Pro LSS technology.
The largest direct lithium extraction column in North America
The company, a pioneer in the development of lithium, announced that it has successfully commissioned the largest DLE column in continuous operation in North America. This selective lithium sorption column was recently installed at their demonstration plant in El Dorado, Arkansas.
[post_relacionado]The Li-Pro TM unit, provided by Koch Technology Solutions, LLC (KTS), is now operational and has begun extracting lithium from the Smackover Formation brine at an input flow of 90 gallons per minute (equivalent to 20.4 m³/min). h).
To date and according to company records, this is the largest DLE facility and is the only DLE column of its type operating on a commercial scale in North America. Since its activation, the column has been operating uninterrupted, exceeding design expectations in both lithium recovery and impurity removal.
The main technical achievements of the DLE column on a commercial scale include:
- High efficiency in lithium recovery.
- Effective impurity rejection rate.
- Long operating cycles.
- Large volume of brine processed.
- Efficient production of lithium chloride.
Importantly, commercial-scale DLE column performance is crucial to validating the design parameters of the Phase 1A Project and is supporting the ongoing design for the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project.
Dr. Andy Robinson, Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Standard Lithium , expressed his excitement:
“The column now operating in our demonstration plant is identical to those that will be deployed in commercial applications in terms of size, design and construction, as well as the absorbent materials used. This successful deployment of DLE technology at our demonstration plant, in collaboration with KTS, marks a precedent in North America and is a significant step towards risk mitigation in our ambition to be the next leader in sustainable lithium production in the region. .”
This fact, in addition to underscoring the progress in lithium extraction technology, establishes a model for future facilities that could be implemented globally to improve the efficiency and sustainability of lithium production. This innovation is especially pertinent given lithium’s growing role in clean and sustainable technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries.
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Source and photo: standardlithium.com