US potash producer Intrepid, water and process technology provider Aquatech and French lithium extraction firm Adionics have completed test work to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from by-product brine at Intrepid’s Wendover, Utah potash facility.

The test results demonstrate the ability to convert Intrepid’s Wendover brine and achieve a lithium extraction rate of 92.9% to produce an overall lithium chloride purity above 99.5%.

Aquatech further processed lithium produced at Adionics’ facility to validate the conversion and refining to battery-grade lithium carbonate. In additional testing, Aquatech converted the lithium-rich brine to a ≥99.5% lithium carbonate product, meeting key specifications for battery manufacturing.

Following the testing results, the parties will continue to move forward under their joint development agreement to evaluate the construction of a lithium facility in Wendover.

The companies have agreed to complete comprehensive feasibility studies and detailed engineering of a 5,000 metric tonne lithium extraction facility and plan to reach a final investment decision in 2026. They also intend to advance project design and development of the project and negotiate definitive agreements to enable construction and operation of the proposed project.

The lithium processing facility is expected to use some of Intrepid’s existing infrastructure in Wendover, Aquatech’s expertise to design, develop and operate the site and Adionics’ direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to convert Intrepid’s post-process brine to lithium carbonate.

Adionics acquired the technology from Koch Technology Solutions in September 2025.

“Advancements in direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies have come at the perfect time, as the United States has reprioritized increasing its production of critical minerals,” said Kevin Crutchfield, Intrepid’s CEO. “We believe the existing infrastructure at our Wendover potash operation and the presence of lithium in our post-process brine differentiates this opportunity from other lithium development projects and we’re hopeful our Wendover lithium project will be among the first domestic projects to enter the market.”

“We are excited about this project for many reasons, including the advantage we have by working with Intrepid to be able to access brine from Intrepid’s existing potash production site. Coupled with the naturally high lithium concentration in the resource, we expect our integrated flowsheet will operate at an attractive marginal cost, allowing us to produce domestic lithium at a pace and cost point that can compete with global benchmarks,” added Devesh Sharma, CEO of Aquatech.

Source: Aquatech