Volt Lithium Corp. (TSXV: VLT | OTCQB: VLTLF | FSE: I2D) has announced the completion of a successful pilot project to test its proprietary direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology in a simulated commercial environment.
Volt commenced the project in March 2023, to confirm economic recoveries of lithium at concentrations of up to 120mg/L, an equivalent concentration to that found in the Muskeg aquifer at Volt’s Rainbow Lake Property.
“Volt has achieved remarkable and ground-breaking results through the pilot project and achieved an impressive 97% recovery rate with 120mg/L concentrations under simulated operating conditions. I want to thank the entire R&D, operational and engineering teams for their dedication and hard work in successfully executing this first phase,” commented Alex Wylie, president and CEO of Volt.
“These results confirm that Volt’s proprietary technology is a true game-changer. With this accomplishment, we are poised to lead the way in North America as the first commercial producer of lithium from oilfield brines, which we are targeting for the second half of next year.”
The pilot project proved the company’s ability to achieve lithium recoveries of 90% based on concentrations of only 34mg/L. The company also simulated operating conditions at concentrations of 120mg/L and achieved recoveries of up to 97% with operating costs under C$4,000/t, assuming sustained average annual production of 20,000tpa of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM).
Volt has a total inferred mineral resource of 4.3Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (4.9Mt of LHM) at its Rainbow Lake property, more than 215 times its targeted sustained average production of 20,000tpa, with lithium concentrations as high as 121mg/L.
Further, in an unprecedented result, the pilot project proved Volt’s DLE technology can maintain 90% lithium recoveries in concentrations as low as 34mg/L, and still maintain commercial economics, an achievement that has yet to be reported by other lithium producers.
For further information, please visit: www.voltlithium.com
