Combining high performance with energy savings
To obtain lithium, we have improved a proven technology: Direct Lithium Extraction, which offers an excellent 90% yield and allows us to obtain high-quality lithium in just 5 days.
At Centenario-Ratones, working with Direct Lithium Extraction offers other significant advantages: While the basis of this technique has been used successfully since the late 1990s (in Argentina and since then in China), the work carried out by Eramet's teams at its R&D centre has enabled it to be improved. Today, the plant's footprint is smaller and it requires much less space than the process based on natural evaporation. In addition, the process enables selective lithium capture, guaranteeing greater purity.
To further enhance the Direct Lithium Extraction method, we collaborated with IFPEN, a French public research organization specialized in aluminum-based catalysts. Together, we created an aluminum-based lithium sorbent, working like a “lithium sponge”. It is covered by 12 patents. It works at 20°C, avoiding heating the brine when it enters our plant. This property significantly reduces energy consumption. Recovering lithium from the “sponge” requires no additional chemicals or acids, but water only.
Let’s talk responsible extraction
Our technique is far more efficient than extracting lithium directly from hard rock which consumes much more energy, and faster than natural evaporation, which can take up to 18 months.