Demand for lithium to use in batteries is anticipated to grow three-fold by 2030 (CAGR 20-25%). Lithium is either hard-rock mined or extracted from brine. The amount of lithium that could potentially be extracted from all sources (26 Mt) far exceeds even projected demand (0.1-0.3 Mt/yr). Rarity is not the issue — rather, separating dilute lithium from the complex brine matrix is the challenge. Energy, reagent, and time-efficient separation methods are needed to access this critical metal.
Despite the large lithium reserves in Canada and the United States, both countries are net importers of lithium chemicals. Accessing these domestic resources requires that the dilute, impure brines can be processed with similar economics as higher-quality resources in the South American Lithium Triangle and Australia. Low-cost refining technologies are a critical component of onshoring lithium processing in North America.
Telescope Innovations is piloting a proprietary Recrystallization Refinement Technology (ReCRFT): A carbon-negative and low-cost method to produce battery-grade lithium from saltwater brines.
Telescope Innovations’ lithium Recrystallization Refinement Technology (ReCRFT) process decreases refining costs by reducing brine feed polishing, even for feedstocks with high impurity concentrations. Low-quality lithium carbonate (20-90% purity) can be upgraded to battery-grade (>95% purity) material. Few reagents are required, and plant design is simplified by “telescoping” the flow sheet into fewer steps, resulting in estimated reductions in plant CapEx (15-25%) and OpEx (15%). The use of CO2 as a softening reagent also provides an opportunity to generate revenue through carbon credits.
ReCRFT is inspired by established manufacturing approaches from the pharmaceutical industry that enable large quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients to be reliably produced in high purity. ReCRFT enables low-cost production in 4 ways: i) continuous operation, ii) high process yield, iii) high impurity tolerance, and iv) reduced reagent utilization.
This project, funded by NorthX, will result in a continuously operating, lab-scale pilot for converting crude lithium chloride brines into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
