(Sharecast News) - European Metals announced a significant milestone on Thursday, with the successful production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate from pregnant leach solution generated during the recent larger-scale Cinovec pilot programme.
The AIM-traded firm said the achievement underscored the viability of the lithium chemical plant (LCP) process flowsheet for the industrial-scale production of either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
It said the pilot programme yielded crucial results, demonstrating that crude lithium carbonate could be converted into clean battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate at laboratory scale.
Moreover, the processed ore used in the programme was fully representative of the run-of-mine material for the initial seven years of mining planned at Cinovec.
That included maintaining the average grade and expected rock-type mix from bulk mining, ensuring reliability and accuracy in the production process.
The board said the successful production positioned the company closer to realising the full-scale industrial production of lithium chemicals, to capitalise on the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the electric vehicle market.
"We are extremely pleased with the results from the lithium hydroxide test programme," said executive chairman Keith Coughlan.
"The lithium hydroxide produced was of the highest grade possible and exceptionally clean.
"This, when combined with the ability to produce either battery-grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide, enables a wider range of off-takers for the Cinovec product."
At 1538 BST, shares in European Metals Holdings were up 27.36% at 17.83p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
European Metals Holdings (EMH)