Traditionally, oil drillers have disposed of the brine by pumping it back into the ground. However, the increasing demand for lithium from electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers has transformed this once-waste brine into a valuable resource.
Instead of concentrating lithium by evaporating brine in large pools, DLE pulls the brine directly into a processing plant, where it undergoes a series of chemical processes to separate the lithium before being injected back underground.
This process produces a lithium carbonate in a matter of hours, compared to the 18-month average it currently takes using evaporative ponds, and without the need to transport concentrates to a separate facility.
“The Demo project is an important step towards progressing the Clearwater project, providing samples to potential strategic partners and an overall advancement for lithium assets on a commercial scale in Alberta,” CEO Chris Doornbos said in a news…
