Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN, OTCQB:ANSNF) has successfully tested its chemical-free lithium brine pre-treatment process that reduces iron in brine, with the iron-free brine successfully used as feed for the KOCH Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) pilot at Green River in Utah, USA.
Anson’s unique lithium brine pre-treatment process reduces iron content to less than 1 ppm without the use of chemicals and was developed at the Anson Lithium Innovation Center (LIC) in the USA.
Since achieving an iron content of less than 1 part per million in the feed brine, approximately 122,000 litres of lithium eluate has been produced by using the Koch DLE process.
An important step
Traditional methods used in brine pre-treatment require chemicals to precipitate iron from the feedstock, which is more expensive, less environmentally friendly and time-consuming.
Anson is focused on reducing costs in its lithium extraction flowsheet design to maximise shareholder value, while also reducing the environmental impact of the lithium extraction process.
“This innovation is an important step in the development of a flow chart for the extraction of lithium from deep well brine,” Anson executive chair and CEO Bruce Richardson said.
“Anson’s objective is to produce a product for the use in electric vehicles, the key intention of EVs is to lower carbon emissions, which is a primary focus of potential offtake partners with which the company is engaged in discussions.
“We also note that European governments are increasingly focused on lowering the carbon intensity of the EV value chain.
“Given these factors, we continue to develop innovative processes that will deliver the highest economic returns for our shareholders while lowering the impact on the environment.
“Our iron removal process achieves both of these objectives by lowering costs and eliminating the use of chemicals.
“We are continuing our work with Koch in maximizing the recovery of lithium from the Green River Lithium Project brine and look forward to the results in early 2025.”
Testing continues
The lithium eluate produced using the KOCH DLE technology will be processed through Anson downstream Sample Demonstration Plant (SDP) to produce lithium carbonate.
Anson says that the KOCH DLE test-work is expected to continue until February 2025 and will produce additional lithium eluate for further downstream processing test-work.
Two full tanks containing 32,000 gallons of lithium eluate processed by the Koch DLE at Green River, Utah, USA.