US-based direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology developer Lilac Solutions has completed its lithium extraction pilot operations on Utah’s Great Salt Lake, a step toward building a commercial facility there.

The pilot recorded strong performance results, including 87% average lithium recovery on 69 mg/​L lithium brine, exceeding the FEL‑3 design basis of 84%, the company said. The system delivered 99.97% overall impurity rejection and confirmed Lilac’s ability to economically recover lithium from the brine while protecting the lake.

The raw eluate lithium concentration from DLE was 2,044 mg/​L, prior to further downstream concentration or treatment. This was increased to over 4,000 mg/​L by subsequent process improvements. Low boron in the eluate confirms no boron removal is required in the flowsheet.

Eluate from the pilot plant was used to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate samples for offtakers and downstream technology provider testing. The field operations also provided insights for optimizing equipment and operating procedures for the full-scale plant.

Lilac is now focused on progressing financing, permitting, and commercial offtake agreements for the plant. The planned commercial facility will produce 5,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in its first phase, doubling current US lithium production. The facility is expected to produce its first lithium in 2027.A future Phase 2 expansion would bring the total project capacity to 20,000 tons per year of LCE.

The pilot marks Lilac’s sixth successful field deployment. It has completed projects in the US, Argentina, and Chile, along with a recently completed pilot in Germany with Neptune Energy.

The Utah pilot operated for seven months and processed more than one million gallons of brine at a peak flow rate of 15 gallons per minute. The system operated through winter and summer conditions without the need for brine heating or cooling, the company said.

Third-party sampling and lab analysis confirmed compliance with all discharge and operator permits, validating Lilac’s process, which reinjects lithium-depleted brine back into the lake and does not lower lake water levels.

​“Our ion exchange DLE technology has proven the ability to economically recover lithium from one of the most challenging brine resources in the world, while protecting the lake and its ecosystems. This achievement provides the foundation for commercial production that can support America’s domestic lithium supply chain,” said Raef Sully, CEO of Lilac.

Source: Lilac Solutions