SANTIAGO - CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL), a sustainable lithium developer based in Chile, has announced a collaboration with DuPont Water Solutions, a unit of DuPont (NYSE:DD), to test a novel nanofiltration (NF) membrane technology aimed at enhancing lithium recovery in the lithium extraction process.
The testing will focus on DuPont’s newly developed FilmTec™ LiNE-XD nanofiltration elements, which are designed to improve the selectivity for lithium and remove impurities. This technology is expected to be integrated into CleanTech Lithium’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) downstream process, following the eluate concentration stage that utilizes industrial forward osmosis (iFO™).
The CEO of CleanTech Lithium, Ignacio Mehech, remarked on the potential benefits of the collaboration, stating that the new NF membrane could align with the company’s goal to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate without the need for thermal evaporation (TE) and crystallisation. This could lead to significant capital expenditure (CAPEX) savings and increased operational efficiency.
The upcoming pilot plant downstream operations, conducted with Conductive Energy, will serve as a platform to validate the effectiveness of the NF membrane in the production process. The success of this testing could mark a significant step forward in sustainable lithium production, which is crucial for the clean energy transition.
CleanTech Lithium, listed on both the AIM and Frankfurt exchanges, is actively developing its lithium projects, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, as well as the exploration stage project Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), all located in the lithium-rich region of Chile. The company emphasizes the use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) with brine reinjection to avoid aquifer depletion, reflecting its commitment to environmental sustainability.
This initiative with DuPont Water Solutions represents a convergence of expertise in material science and sustainable resource development, aiming to enhance the efficiency of lithium extraction to meet the growing demand for clean energy storage solutions.
This information is based on a press release statement from CleanTech Lithium PLC.
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