Page 163 - CW E-Magazine (3-10-2023)

News from Abroad

lithium hydroxide price at LME (aver- sustainable manner. “Given the critical The company’s carbon footprint
age among China, Japan, South Korea). role of EVs in reducing the carbon was offset with carbon credits pur-
footprint of the transportation sector, chased from Carbonext which are veri-
The company gave updates on its Glencore and Sigma Lithium’s joint fied through Verra Verified Carbon
Greentech plant ramp-up which con- efforts are fully aligned with our clients’ Standard, making the shipment carbon
tinues to progress and is on target to approach to responsible sourcing and neutral.
produce 130,000 tonnes of ‘Triple Zero supply chains built in line with the
Green Lithium’ in 2023. The plant pro- ethos of the consumer of the EV,” “We are delighted to partner with
duces the company’s “green” lithium Ms. Cabral said. Sigma Lithium, as we continue to
with more than 5.5 percent lithium offer our customers responsibly pro-
oxide and high purity. Sigma Lithium focuses on “green” duced, low carbon lithium. This part-
lithium which uses only renewable nership also underpins our ambition
Sigma Lithium’s CEO Ms. Ana energy, recycled water and dry-stacked to become a partner of choice for the
Cabral said the companies are building tailings. Its lithium plant is the first provision of such a critical mineral
an electric vehicle (EV) supply chain project without a tailings dam and uses to the battery and EV industry, there-
that is focused on providing lithium dense medium separation which does by supporting the energy transition,”
materials that are responsibly sourced not use dangerous chemicals for the said Mr. Robin Francois, Lithium
in an environmentally and socially environment. Trader at Glencore.
PILOT FACILITY

Metso expands battery chemicals processing capa-
bilities in Finland

Metso, Finland-based provider of simulation model to accurately predict
sustainable technologies, solutions and plant behaviour.
services for the aggregates, minerals
processing and metals refining indus- Metso has developed sustainable
tries, has modernised its pilot facility at hard rock lithium soda leaching techno-
Metso Research Centre in Pori, Finland, logies for 20 years already. The pilot
with expanded capabilities for lithium facility expansion complements Metso’s
hydroxide (LiOH) and other battery frontrunning piloting capabilities for
chemicals process testing. The pilot minerals processing and metals refin-
line serves mining and battery industry ing, enabling minerals and battery
customers processing battery minerals. industry customers to have end-to-end
In connection with the expansion, Metso testing, piloting services and technology
has also opened a battery materials pre- and equipment deliveries from one
cursor (pCAM) pilot plant, available supplier. Metso’s expertise in battery
now for customer trials. minerals covers the extraction of lithium
from brines and pegmatite ores up to
“Pilot run requests for battery mine- battery-grade lithium salts. These pat-
rals like lithium, nickel and cobalt ented processes are designed to meet
have increased significantly during Process simulations are essential in the needs for high-end lithium-ion bat-
the last three years. Currently, we are the piloting phase, supporting process tery chemicals production. Metso said
working on several battery black mass and equipment design, training and it provides sustainable technology and
recycling and precursor projects and plant operation. For this purpose, Metso equipment for the entire lithium, nickel
have several lithium and other battery uses its metallurgical digital twin and cobalt production chain – from
chemicals project pilots on our labo- Geminex, which is based on the com- the mine to battery materials and black
ratory schedule,” said Ms. Janne Karo- pany’s proprietary ‘HSC-Sim’ software mass recycling – with project scopes
nen, Director for Hydrometallurgical for predictive process simulations. Pilot ranging from equipment packages to
Research & Development at Metso. plant and real-time plant data enrich the plant deliveries.

Chemical Weekly October 3, 2023 163

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