C29 Metals Ltd (ASX:C29) has achieved 95.8% efficiency in lithium extraction from Pocitos 7 brines during the Ekosolve™ DLE technology pilot plant test work at the University of Melbourne, where it produced an average lithium concentration of 95.3 parts per million (ppm) lithium.
These experimental results for the 10-stage counter-current extraction Ekosolve process demonstrated encouraging data after passing the brine through a 10-pass extraction cycle.
The Pocitos 7 Lithium Brine Project is situated on Pocitos Salar in the lithium-rich province of Salta of Argentina, where the company previously intersected a 30-metre plus aquifer zone from its first diamond hole at the project.
Furthermore, the lithium chloride produced via the Ekosolve method is now being further processed to produce a battery-grade lithium carbonate product.
Good extractability
University of Melbourne associate professor Dr Kathryn Mumford said: “This result is similar, and slightly better than previous brines tested from Pozuelos, Incahuasi and Pocitos salars.
“It demonstrates that the extraction organic solvents have a good extractability for the lithium in the salt lake brine from C29 Metals at low solvent to brine ratios.”
Highlights from field
Earlier this year, the company's maiden drill program at Pocitos 7 intersected a brine aquifer zone of at least 30 metres.
The hole, DDH1, was completed at 420 metres with a packer test intercepting a deep aquifer from around 370 to 400 metres.
Technical consultant to the company for Pocitos 7, Phillip Thomas, said that the core transitioned from fine clays to a combination of halite and sands at the 350-metre mark and became coarser and more porous as the hole approached 400 metres with interbedding evident.
A second hole, DDH2, is being planned and may be supplemented with an audio telluric (CSAMT) geophysics survey that will penetrate down to 500 metres to ensure that this hole is optimally located.