Page 171 - CW E-Magazine (19-9-2023)

News from Abroad

bines technologies from its glass and
chemicals businesses, and has completed
a proof-of-concept trial on a pilot
line at the AGC Yokohama Technical
Centre. This method makes it possible
to produce a variety of electrolyte com-
positions with high quality, which have
been difficult in conventional methods,
under a process designed for mass pro-
duction in the future. Furthermore, this
method facilitates the use of materials In the conventional electrolyte syn- time and the time required for the reac-
recycled from lithium-ion batteries, thesis method, establishing a mass pro- tion. In addition, impurities and lack of
and AGC believes it will contribute to duction process has been a major chal- homogeneity in the produced electro-
solving the problem of recycling used lenge, due to the limited amounts of lytes have been obstacles to improving
lithium rechargeable batteries. electrolytes that can be handled at one performance.

PROJECT PROGRESS
Standard Lithium announces feasibility study results

for lithium extraction plant at Lanxess’ US site

Canada’s Standard Lithium has an- risked as we move rapidly towards
nounced “positive results” of a feasibi- commercialisation. We have a deep un-
lity study for its first commercial lithium derstanding of the resource and history
extraction plant project at the Lanxess of extracting lithium from the brine
South plant in Arkansas, USA. using DLE, and we will be the first to do
so at a commercial scale in the Smack-
The project – named Phase 1A– is nuing project definition, finalisation of over in partnership with Lanxess. We
proposed to be located at the South commercial agreements with Lanxess expect to replicate and scale the core
Plant in Arkansas. The US subsidiary and project financing initiatives. As- elements of this first commercial plant
of German speciality chemicals firm, suming a positive FID, the company across our extensive and growing pro-
Lanxess, has exclusive brine extrac- expects to commence construction in ject portfolio in the Smackover forma-
tion rights for 149,442-acres which is 2024 and reach commercial production tion in Arkansas and Texas.”
contained within three brine production in 2026.
units, referred to as the South, Central Mr. Robert Mintak, CEO of Stand-
and West Brine Units. The average annual production over ard Lithium, commented, “Building on
the operating life of the project is of the success of our demonstration DLE
The Definitive Feasibility Study 5,400-tpa with peak annual production facility, Phase 1A taps into the long-es-
(DFS) considers first production of bat- of 5,700-tpa. tablished expertise in brine processing,
tery-quality lithium carbonate in 2026, complemented by the infrastructure
using direct lithium extraction (DLE), “We are taking a thoughtful, phased at the Lanxess South Plant. Phase 1A
from Smackover brine currently being approach to project development,” marks the beginning of a series of lithium
produced by Lanxess from their South said Dr. Andy Robinson, President and projects we have charted across the
Brine Unit. COO of Standard Lithium. “Phase 1A Smackover Formation, a region that’s
is the first commercial lithium extrac- been integral to the US energy sector
The DFS is focused solely on Phase tion plant proposed for the Smackover, for over a century. Leveraging this vast
1A and serves as a comprehensive review and a modest scale up from the demon- reservoir of knowledge and the region’s
of this first project. Standard Lithium stration plant that has been operating culture of innovation, we aim to posi-
expects to make a Final Investment and efficiently extracting lithium from tion the region as a significant contri-
Decision (FID) related to Phase 1A in the same brine for over 3½ years. The butor addressing the US’s needs for
the first half of 2024, subject to conti- phase 1A project is substantially de- sustainably produced lithium.”

Chemical Weekly September 19, 2023 171

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