One World Lithium – Separation Technology
January 21, 2021
CRITICAL FLUID SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY
HISTORY
In July of 2020, West Peak Ventures of Canada Ltd engaged Sway Energy Ltd to search for a technology to separate lithium carbonate from a brine.
West Peak Ventures has an agreement with One World Lithium to assign the critical fluid separation technology to One World lithium if the proof of concept testing is successful. There may be several patents applied for. West Peak Ventures will own 100% of the critical fluid separation technology subject to 10% of the net benefits converted to a royalty of approximately 3% payable to Sway Energy Ltd.
The proof of concept testing will be completed by mid March, 2021.
PROCESS
The lithium bearing brine ‘s pressure will be increased by four BARS or 56 pounds per square inch and a temperature of 60 C . 90% of the water will evaporate. This initial process is called a vapor. Subsequently the temperature of the remaining brine slurry will be increased to 100 C and the pressure will be increased to 200 BARS (3,000 psi).
On reducing the pressure by half, a lithium complex will separate out. At further reduction in pressure other elements will separate including Potassium, boron, magnesium.
This process is solvent based. Most separation technologies are membrane based that are less efficient.
APPLICATIONS
The next step is to build a pilot plant at a producing lithium- brine project. The pilot plant may cost in the order of 3,000,000 USD.
Lithium Carbonate ( LCE )will be separated at the well head and subsequently sold to consumers including giga factories for battery production, automobile manufactures, and mobile devices. The consumers will use an ion extractor to convert lithium carbonate to battery grade lithium. (lithium carbonate contains 18% lithium)
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
The CAPEX of a producing lithium/brine mine costs between 350 to 450 million USD. Of this a third of the CAPEX is evaporation ponds to extract LCE which will take between 12 to 18 months. The critical fluid separation process does not require evaporation ponds for a CAPEX savings of some 130 million USD.
The other benefit is the waste brine is recirculated to the brine formations at the mine site which stabilizes the salar’s formations that will significantly extend the mine life.
The process is almost carbon neutral.
BUSINESS PLAN
OWL intends to license the technology to current and future producers for a royalty interest.
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