Source: Streetwise Reports 08/22/2024
The technology was confirmed to be effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Read one analyst's thoughts about the news and investing in the company behind it.
Laboratory-scale testing of Lithos Group Ltd.'s (OTC: LITSF) proprietary AcQUA™ pretreatment technology on brines from Chile's Salar de Atacama resulted in robust recovery of lithium and removal of impurities, as noted in a news release.
"This news is a really big deal because it means that the technology that the company has been developing to make possible the efficient production of lithium without the need for traditional evaporation ponds actually works and can be implemented" Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote on Streetwise Reports.
He added that this positive news "could cause the stock to break dramatically to the upside."
The testing results confirmed that AcQUA™ removes magnesium, boric acid, calcium, and sulfates from lithium brines to the degree needed to produce high-purity lithium, which is required for battery manufacturing.
Results showed that AcQUA™ removes the impurities and increases lithium concentration only through its hybrid electropressure membrane process, not by using chemicals, reagents, fresh water, and/or traditionally used evaporation ponds.
Because of this, AcQUA™ minimizes environmental impact and water consumption in lithium mining, in alignment with the industry's move toward sustainability in operations.
Lithos conducted the testing with Sociedad Química y Minera (NYSE: SQM), a global lithium producer in Chile committed to sustainability. The work was done at Lithos' Bessemer, Ala., complex.
"These achievements not only differentiate us within the industry but also enhance our competitive position, demonstrating our potential to meet the increasing demand for high-purity lithium crucial for renewable energy technologies" Lithos Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Taylor said in the release.
Supporting Lithium Demand
With the facility Headquartered in Bessemer, AL, Lithos Group is a mining technology company focused on the selective extraction of aqueous minerals.
With respect to lithium, Lithos' AcQUA™ pretreats, selectively purifies, and concentrates lithium-enriched brines before lithium chloride is extracted. The patent-pending technology seamlessly integrates with any produced water management strategy.
As the testing with SQM demonstrated, AcQUA™ does not require chemicals, reagents, freshwater, or evaporation ponds, so none are used. According to Lithos Group, up to 98% of the input brine water gets recycled when AcQUA™ is employed for the conditioning and pretreatment process.
Because this first phase affects the entire lithium value chain through direct lithium extraction (DLE) into polishing and purification of battery-grade lithium feedstock, the technology used must be efficient. AcQUA™, the company described in its 2024 Corporate Presentation, is not only efficient but also customer-validated and field-proven on an industrial scale.
Technical Analyst Maund has an Immediate Strong Buy rating on Lithos Group.
"Upstream pretreatment efficiency represents the key bottleneck to the commercial viability of any DLE technology used downstream" according to Lithos Group's website. "If a raw brine can't be economically and selectively purified, then any downstream DLE or conversion work is ...
