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Infinity Lithium launches ‘Infinity GreenTech’ to commercialise low-carbon lithium processing tech
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Infinity GreenTech will initially focus on development and commercialisation of sustainable, low carbon footprint lithium hard rock processing tech — a radical change to traditional process routes.
Infinity Lithium Corporation has launched Infinity GreenTech to commercialise a sustainable, novel lithium hydrometallurgical conversion process.
Following encouraging results from the first stages of test work, Infinity GreenTech said it anticipates the lodgement of international PCT applications within 12 months of filing the provision patent applications.
Infinity Lithium (ASX:INF) said the overarching aim is to provide a radical change to traditional process routes by minimising the environmental impact of all process development through direct alignment to green energies and recirculation of key inputs.
An opportunity for numerous environmental benefits
A technical advisory committee (TAC), including chairman Jon Starink and expert David Maree, was formed to oversee the completion of phase-1 test work and process flowsheet development.
Commenting on the test work, Starink said this novel process has many economic and environmental benefits.
“With the potential for a real reduction in capital requirements, there are opportunities to unlock lithium deposits that were previously unviable or not of sufficient scale for integrated downstream projects,” he said.
Infinity managing director and CEO Ryan Parkin said: “This could be a major opportunity for Infinity to provide an option to significantly improve the economic and environmental profile of the San José Lithium Project,” he said.
“It also enables Infinity to apply its GreenTech technology in a new generation of hard rock lithium chemical processing that will provide major benefits and can be applicable to many other hard rock lithium deposits across the world.”
Infinity GreenTech’s process
GreenTech will use renewable energies to convert lithium raw material to lithium chemicals and will in turn, reduce the processing time and minimise energy inputs.
Infinity Lithium said the processing route also has significant environmental benefits including less waste and a minimised CO2 footprint.
The rapid production of both battery grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide and products is achieved with a reduction in process complexity, therefore a reduction in capital investment.
“Early bench scale test work results confirmed recoverability of lithium in solution from Run-Of-Mine (‘ROM’) feedstock between 60% to 70% lithium from open-circuit direct processing of ROM without optimisation,” Infinity Lithium said.
Significantly higher recovery of lithium is also “anticipated once process conditions are optimised.”
While beneficiation test work is progressing, the initial results directly from ROM feedstock highlights an opportunity to forgo the beneficiation stage for lithium chemical conversion projects such as the San José Lithium Project.
Looking ahead
Infinity GreenTech is also assessing opportunities to recover valuable potassium and sodium-containing-by-products in the next stages of test work, with locked-cycle test work (LCT) expected to begin in late November 2021.
The preparation of budgets and schedules has begun for the construction of laboratory and pilot plant facilities and multiple options are being evaluated for the progression of pilot plant design and layout engineering.
This article was developed in collaboration with Infinity Lithium Corporation, 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.
