The corporate and Korean battery supplies producer EcoPro Innovation have met benchmarked finish person specs from a Seymour spodumene bulk pattern. Pic: Getty Pictures.
- GT1 produces lithium hydroxide utilizing ore from its Seymour venture in Canada
- Firm plans to make use of testwork in upcoming pre-feasibility examine
- Partnership with downstream participant EcoPro places GT1 forward of the competitors
Particular Report: Inexperienced Know-how Metals’ piloting testwork on focus from its Seymour venture in Canada has produced battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
A complete of 600kg of Seymour focus was processed via the pilot-scale facility and confirmed the method flowsheet of EcoPro Innovation, producing distinctive general recoveries averaging >94%.
Battery-grade 56.5% LiOH.H2O was achieved with low impurities.
Plus, the concentrated spodumene was extremely amenable to varied course of steps indicating the decrease finish of operational prices to take away required impurities.
“This consequence is the results of onerous work from our crew over the previous 12 months, starting with the majority pattern extraction from Seymour, concentrated replicating our proposed concentrator flowsheet in a distinct province after which co-ordinating with EcoPro on their testwork program and piloting facility primarily based in Pohang, South Korea,” Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1) managing director Cameron Henry mentioned.
“The focus was then examined, analysed and processed via the pilot facility to supply the ultimate product.”
Given a bulk pattern from the corporate’s Root venture has already been taken, the following work phases will embrace piloting to supply a 5.5% Li2O focus.
This second pilot program at EcoPro’s facility is aimed toward confirming the Root venture’s concentrates can be readily transformed.
De-risked growth alternative for North America
GT1 mentioned the chance to finish testwork and piloting of its ore and concentrates with a downstream associate demonstrated the strategic nature of the partnership and the benefit the corporate had over rivals that didn’t have the flexibility, information or functionality.
It strongly believes having an built-in resolution requires the flexibility to make sure that the downstream element is designed to make sure that the mine concentrates could be processed effectively and affordably to finish person necessities.
The piloting program will probably be utilized in pre-feasibility examine (PFS) growth and advertising samples for extra future offtake agreements.
“The outcomes affirm the prime quality of our ore and focus product and will probably be utilised within the growth of the ultimate design standards for our PFS on the proposed lithium hydroxide conversion facility,” Henry mentioned.
“The benefit that GT1 has with such a confirmed associate within the conversion of uncooked supplies into battery-grade lithium chemical compounds is a partnership that’s closely underrated and undervalued.
“Along with GT1’s mine and concentrator growth experience and EcoPro’s information of their space of conversion creates a particularly priceless and derisked growth alternative for Ontario and the North American EV market. “
Based mostly on the profitable testwork and piloting program follow-up work will proceed at EcoPro’s testing facility to optimise working circumstances, reagent addition and product definition.
The companions are additionally contemplating a scaled-up plant design inside the proposed Thunder Bay conversion facility wherein each GT1 and EcoPro could enter right into a three way partnership to develop submit the completion of the PFS.