Lilac Solutions, a provider of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, has launched its first European field pilot at Neptune Energy’s operations site in Steinitz, Germany to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine associated with gas production.

The integrated pilot processes brine from the subsurface reservoir through a complete flowsheet encompassing filtering and pretreatment, lithium extraction using Lilac’s proprietary ion exchange technology, concentration and conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Lilac’s containerized pilot system was fabricated at the company’s Oakland, California headquarters and shipped to site.

The field pilot can test hydrochloric and sulfuric acid flowsheets to optimize the process design for scale-up. Operations, including brine processing, began in May and testing is scheduled to run through the end of July.

The brine is sourced from Neptune’s natural gas wells in the Altmark, a region that has a long history of energy and raw materials production. Lilac’s DLE technology requires no evaporation ponds and minimal land and water usage.

“We’re excited to work alongside Neptune to demonstrate that lithium can be cost-effectively produced in the Altmark while adhering to the highest environmental standards,” said Raef Sully, CEO of Lilac. ​“Lilac’s technology is a strong fit for the Altmark brine and can enable this resource to become a significant source of German lithium production in the future.”

Source: Lilac