Green Technology Metals produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Seymour

• GT1 produces lithium hydroxide using ore from its Seymour project in Canada
• Company plans to use testwork in upcoming pre-feasibility study
• Partnership with downstream player EcoPro puts GT1 ahead of the competition

Special Report: Green Technology Metals’ piloting testwork on concentrate from its Seymour project in Canada has produced battery-grade lithium hydroxide. 

A total of 600kg of Seymour concentrate was processed through the pilot-scale facility and confirmed the process flowsheet of EcoPro Innovation, producing exceptional overall recoveries averaging >94%.

Battery-grade 56.5% LiOH.H2O was achieved with low impurities.

Plus, the concentrated spodumene was highly amenable to various process steps indicating the lower end of operational costs to remove required impurities.

“This outcome is the result of hard work from our team over the past 12 months, beginning with the bulk sample extraction from Seymour, concentrated replicating our proposed concentrator flowsheet in a different province and then co-ordinating with EcoPro on their testwork program and piloting facility based in Pohang, South Korea,” Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1) managing director Cameron Henry said.

“The concentrate was then tested, analysed and processed through the pilot facility to produce the final product.”

Given a bulk sample from the company’s Root project has already been taken, the next work phases will include piloting to produce a 5.5% Li2O concentrate.

This second pilot program at EcoPro’s facility is aimed at confirming the Root project’s concentrates can also be readily converted.

De-risked development opportunity for North America

GT1 said the opportunity to complete testwork and piloting of its ore and concentrates with a downstream partner demonstrated the strategic nature of the partnership and the advantage the company had over competitors that didn’t have the ability, knowledge or capability. 

It strongly believes having an integrated solution requires the ability to ensure that the downstream component is designed to ensure that the mine concentrates can be processed efficiently and cost effectively to end user requirements.

The piloting program will be used in pre-feasibility study (PFS) development and marketing samples for additional future offtake agreements.

“The results confirm the high quality of our ore and concentrate product and will be utilised in the development of the final design criteria for our PFS on the proposed lithium hydroxide conversion facility,” Henry said.

“The advantage that GT1 has with such a proven partner in the conversion of raw materials into battery-grade lithium chemicals is a partnership that is heavily underrated and undervalued. 

“Together with GT1’s mine and concentrator development expertise and EcoPro’s knowledge in their area of conversion creates an extremely valuable and derisked development opportunity for Ontario and the North American EV market. “

Based on the successful testwork and piloting program follow-up work will continue at EcoPro’s testing facility to optimise operating conditions, reagent addition and product definition.

The partners are also considering a scaled-up plant design within the proposed Thunder Bay conversion facility in which both GT1 and EcoPro may enter into a joint venture to develop post the completion of the PFS.

This article was developed in collaboration with Green Technology Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.