Aug 30 2018
MGX Minerals Inc. and engineering partner PurLucid Treatment Solutions are pleased to report that continued research and development utilizing newly developed molecular sieve technology has consistently achieved >99% lithium recovery from complex global source brines.
Continued development of polymeric membranes has also reduced the cost of the lithium and mineral extraction components of the systems by 90% when compared to originally formulated stainless steel or titanium membrane platforms required for these caustic brines.
The new molecular sieve technology has been tested and confirmed for use in the commercial-scale units, with recent batch scale testing showing 20x lithium concentration and low selectivity for other ions. Major improvements include better than 99% exclusion of sodium and potassium from the product stream. Two systems are currently ready for deployment in the Alberta Oil Sands and are undergoing upgrades to include the new technological improvements in parallel with ongoing site engineering and integration with SAGD operations.
Rapid Lithium Brine Extraction Technology
MGX has developed a rapid lithium extraction technology eliminating or greatly reducing the physical footprint and investment in large, multi-phase, lake sized, lined evaporation ponds, as well as enhancing the quality of extraction and recovery across a complex range of brines as compared with traditional solar evaporation. This technology is applicable to petrolithium (oil and gas wastewater), natural brine, and other brine sources such as lithium-rich mine and industrial plant wastewater. The technology was recently chosen as winner of the Base and Specialty Metals Industry Leadership Award at the 2018 S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards, held in London in May (see press release dated May 18, 2018).
Source: https://www.mgxminerals.com/investors/news/2018/396-mgx-minerals-and-engineering-partner-purlucid-achieve-99-7-lithium-recovery-low-cost-polymeric-membrane-breakthrough.html