Lithium Australian begins LieNA process pilot plant

Lithium ion battery materials company Lithium Australia has commenced pilot plant operations testing its LieNA lithium metal processing technology.

Operating the pilot plant, at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s Sydney facility, is through a joint development agreement (JDA) with Mineral Resources Ltd (MinRes).

The plant is a key activity to demonstrate the technology at a large scale under the JDA, and follows the successful commissioning of equipment and receipt of raw material samples from MinRes.

The company commissioned a new pilot batch autoclave to test the technology, which has previously been successfully tested at laboratory scale.

Lithium Australia said in a statement that results from piloting would support the engineering study for a demonstration scale plant, which MinRes can elect to independently fund, develop, and operate.

“Upon completion of piloting and an engineering study, Lithium Australia and MinRes will form a 50:50 joint venture to commercialise the LieNA technology through a licensing model.”

The Company recently announced the appointment of Carnac Project Delivery Services as lead engineer for the demonstration plant engineering study.

In 2021 Lithium Australia was awarded a Cooperative Research Centre Project grant to support the $3.6 million project to recover lithium from hard rock spodumene ores.

The first license issued by the JV is expected to be for the demonstration plant.

Further reading:
Lithium Australia moves to lithium pilot plant production

Picture: Lithium Australia