Update13 Jul 2023 12:43
The Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technology developed by our joint venture partner in Bolivia, NEXT-ChemX Corporation (iTDE process), has continued to perform well in processing synthetic brines modelled on the chemical composition of key Bolivian salares. This has boosted our confidence level, and ability to advance to the next stage.
The next step is to field-test our iTDE process for the authorities, on the larger scale (40kg) samples received by our team, with all necessary permitting in accordance with law, from the 5 priority salares (salt-lakes).
The first phase of this process includes exhaustive laboratory test-work, testing several processing sequencing combinations, which is expected to be completed during the Q3 2023.
Based on the volumes delivered, we then expect to conduct preliminary pilot-plant testing at the joint venture's facility, which is now being assembled in Austin, Texas.
Provided this initial pilot-plant test-work yields results as expected, we plan to collect much larger (possibly up to 60,000kg) volumes of the highest yielding brines for full pilot-plant processing. This detailed work may allow us to fine-tune the iTDE process for some or all of the targeted brines, with the objective of high yields, low impurities, low cost and especially a limited environmental foot-print.