Green River Lithium Project : Anson Resources launches construction of demonstration plant in Utah
Anson Resources Limited (ASX: ASN) has officially started the construction of its Demonstration Plant at the Green River Lithium Project, located in the Paradox Basin in south-eastern Utah, USA. This marks a significant step in the company’s accelerated development plan for the Green River Project, following a comprehensive geotechnical engineering study and confirmation of the processing plant site last month.
The Demonstration Plant, situated on Anson’s industrial-use land at Green River, aims to continuously produce lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and potential offtake partners’ qualification processes. With necessary approvals in place and groundwork underway, the company anticipates the plant’s production to begin in January 2024. The plant will emulate the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process utilized at Anson’s Lithium Innovation Centre (LIC) in Florida, USA, which has already started producing samples for OEM and cathode active material (CAM) qualification tests.
Anson Resources starts demonstration plant construction at Green River Lithium Project
Lithium Carbonate Production to Enhance OEM Qualification Processes
The initial stage in the Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) production involves the DLE process, tested by Anson at an independent laboratory in Salt Lake City. This process, featuring both adsorption and desorption stages, was piloted on a small scale and demonstrated the resin’s capability to selectively absorb lithium from supersaturated brine. The data gathered during this operation is crucial for optimizing the lithium carbonate production process.
The ongoing operation of the Sample Demonstration Plant (SDP) at the LIC has yielded valuable insights into the most effective production conditions and procedures. These findings are integral to the design of the Green River Demonstration Plant, which will replicate these processes using fresh brine. The equipment from Anson’s LIC will be duplicated and transferred to the Green River site for this purpose.
Advancements in Lithium Extraction and Purification at Anson’s LIC
Anson’s advancements in lithium extraction and purification, demonstrated at the LIC, form the foundation for the Green River Demonstration Plant. The knowledge gained from the LIC’s operations will be instrumental in enhancing the efficiency of lithium carbonate production, benefiting potential offtake partners, OEMs, and CAM producers.
This development in lithium carbonate production at Anson Resources Limited’s Green River Lithium Project is not just a leap forward for the company but also for the lithium industry in the United States, potentially influencing the global market for lithium-based products.