Smackover Lithium, the direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology joint venture between Equinor and Standard Lithium, has derisked its technology as part of a field pilot in Arkansas, according to a news release.

Working in partnership with Koch Technology Solutions (KTS) during a three-month period, the company operated a DLE field pilot plant where it recovered more than 99% of lithium from brine sourced from the South West Arkansas (SWA) project’s International Paper Co. well. The results, according to the release, exceeded the 95% recovery used in the current design.

KTS’ Li-Pro Lithium Selective Sorption technology was used.

“We’re now ready to commercialize this technology,” said Standard Lithium’s President and COO Andy Robinson. “For five years, Standard Lithium has been operating a large-scale demonstration plant in Arkansas, and we’ve processed over 28 million gallons of real, live Smackover brine. This large demonstration plant has been invaluable in developing, streamlining and optimizing the flowsheet. The field-pilot was the final step to demonstrate that we can reliably process brine from our SWA project, extract lithium in real-time and convert to a battery-quality lithium carbonate product.”

Nearly 2,400 bbl of brine was processed from the well at the plant during the final field test. Standard Lithium said about 970 gallons of concentrated and purified lithium chloride solution was produced at the plant. The solution is being sent offsite to three vendors who will produce about 27 kg of battery-quality lithium carbonate. The samples will be used in the qualification process with potential offtake partners, the release stated.

With the final field test complete, Robinson said Smackover Lithium can now complete the FEED work and feasibility study.

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