Anson Cuts Lithium Contaminants by Over 90% in New Purification Step
Anson Resources has successfully implemented a polishing process at its Green River Lithium Project that significantly reduces contaminants in lithium chloride eluate, paving the way for battery-grade lithium carbonate production.
- Polishing process reduces minor contaminants in lithium chloride eluate
- Process developed and tested at Anson’s Lithium Innovation Center, USA
- Uses nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange technologies
- Installed polishing system processes 43,000 gallons of eluate continuously
- On track to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate with final evaporation and carbonation
Polishing, A Critical Step in Lithium Refinement
Anson Resources Limited (ASX, ASN) has announced a significant milestone in its lithium extraction journey at the Green River Lithium Project in Utah, USA. The company’s newly developed polishing process has successfully reduced residual contaminants in the lithium chloride eluate produced by the Koch Technology Services Direct Lithium Extraction pilot plant. This advancement is a crucial step toward producing battery-grade lithium carbonate, a key material for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
The polishing process, developed and trialed at Anson’s Lithium Innovation Center in the United States, employs a combination of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. These technologies work in concert to remove trace impurities such as boron, barium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, silicon, copper, and zinc that remain after the initial direct lithium extraction (DLE) phase.
Technical Success and Operational Integration
According to the company’s data, the polishing step achieves rejection rates exceeding 75% for all measured contaminants, with some impurities like barium, copper, and zinc being completely eliminated. This level of purification is essential because leftover contaminants can degrade the quality of the final lithium carbonate product, impacting its suitability for high-performance battery applications.
The polishing system has already been installed at the Green River site and is operating continuously, processing approximately 43,000 gallons of lithium chloride eluate daily. This integration demonstrates Anson’s ability to scale laboratory innovations into operational processes, a key factor in advancing toward commercial lithium production.
Implications for Cost and Product Quality
Beyond improving product purity, the polishing process is expected to positively influence the capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (OPEX) of the planned lithium carbonate plant. By efficiently removing contaminants early in the downstream processing, Anson can potentially reduce the complexity and cost of the final evaporation and carbonation stages required to crystallize lithium carbonate.
This streamlined approach aligns with broader industry trends seeking to optimize lithium extraction from brines with minimal environmental footprint and cost. Anson’s proprietary flowsheet, developed through extensive testing at its Lithium Innovation Center, positions the company competitively within the evolving lithium market.
Looking Ahead, Final Steps to Battery-Grade Lithium
With polishing successfully underway, Anson is now focusing on concentrating the purified lithium chloride solution and advancing to the final evaporation and carbonation steps. These processes will precipitate or wash out remaining impurities, culminating in the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate suitable for the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.
While the announcement does not specify exact timelines for commercial-scale production, the progress marks a tangible step forward in Anson’s strategy to develop its Green River and Paradox Lithium Projects into significant lithium producers. Investors and industry watchers will be keen to monitor forthcoming updates on the evaporation and carbonation phases and any scale-up milestones.
Bottom Line?
Anson’s polishing breakthrough sharpens its path to battery-grade lithium, setting the stage for competitive production in a fast-growing market.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the projected timelines for completing evaporation and carbonation to produce commercial lithium carbonate?
- How will the polishing process impact overall production costs and plant economics at scale?
- What are the scalability challenges and potential risks in transitioning from pilot to full-scale operations?
