Battery Technology + Energy Storage

Brine to battery: Construction of a lithium refinery pilot plant

THE PROBLEM

 Demand for lithium to use in batteries is anticipated to grow three-fold by 2030 (CAGR 20-25%). Lithium is either hard-rock mined or extracted from brine. The amount of lithium that could potentially be extracted from all sources (26 Mt) far exceeds even projected demand (0.1-0.3 Mt/yr). Rarity is not the issue — rather, separating dilute lithium from the complex brine matrix is the challenge. Energy, reagent, and time-efficient separation methods are needed to access this critical metal.

Despite the large lithium reserves in Canada and the United States, both countries are net importers of lithium chemicals. Accessing these domestic resources requires that the dilute, impure brines can be processed with similar economics as higher-quality resources in the South American Lithium Triangle and Australia. Low-cost refining technologies are a critical component of onshoring lithium processing in North America.

THE SOLUTION

Telescope Innovations’ lithium Recrystallization Refinement Technology (ReCRFT) process decreases refining costs by reducing brine feed polishing, even for feedstocks with high impurity concentrations. Low quality lithium carbonate (20-90% purity) can be upgraded to battery-grade (>95% purity) material. Few reagents are required, and plant design is simplified by “telescoping” the flow sheet into fewer steps, resulting in estimated reductions in plant CapEx (15-25%) and OpEx (15%). The use of CO2 as a softening reagent also provides an opportunity to generate revenue through carbon credits.

ReCRFT is inspired by established manufacturing approaches from the pharmaceutical industry that enable large quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients to be reliably produced in high purity. ReCRFT enables low-cost production in 4 ways: i) continuous operation, ii) high process yield, iii) high impurity tolerance, and iv) reduced reagent utilization.

This project funded by CICE will result in a continuously operating, lab-scale pilot for converting crude lithium chloride brines into battery-grade lithium carbonate.

PROJECT STATUS
Active
PROJECT CATEGORY
Battery + Energy Storage
FUNDING RECIPIENT
Telescope Innovations
CICE FUNDING AMOUNT
$400,273
PROJECT VALUE
$800,546
  • “Piloting ReCRFT is a key milestone in advancing both its technology readiness level and pathway to commercialization. CICE support for this pilot will enable Telescope Innovations to demonstrate continuous operation and conduct the detailed engineering studies that are necessary precursors to technology licensing. Telescope Innovations is excited to kick off this project and address its long-term vision of decarbonizing the lithium supply chain."
    DR RYAN JASONIUS, VP OF CHEMISTRY CONTRACT SERVICES AT TELESCOPE INNOVATIONS LEARN MORE ABOUT TELESCOPE INNOVATIONS