Geothermal Rating of the Italian Territories (Supply: Altamin launch by way of Cataldi et Al, 1995)
Watercycle Applied sciences can be testing lithium extraction applied sciences on the geothermal brine within the Lazio area of central Italy.
UK-based Watercycle Applied sciences has signed an settlement with Energia Minerals Srl (Energia) from Energia’s geothermal exploration license areas within the Lazio area of central Italy. The geothermal brine within the examine space can be examined utilizing Watercycle’s proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallization (DLEC) expertise.
Energia is a subsidiary Altamin, a mining firm listed within the Australian Inventory Change. In early 2022, Altamin was granted two exploration licenses (ELs) within the Lazio administrative area. These licenses, situated at Cesano, have been extremely sought due to geothermal brines with excessive prospects for lithium extraction.
Watercycle’s patented filtration course of is presently being piloted in tandem with Cornish Lithium on the firm’s Cornwall website. The DLEC course of is able to treating a variety of water sorts and has already been confirmed to have the ability to selectively extract lithium from sub-surface brine.
Underneath the settlement, Watercycle will take a look at brines from a borehole in Italy to know its composition. The corporate will then fabricate membranes in keeping with this chemistry. A amount of the brine will then be deal with to the DLEC course of, after which each the lithium-rich and de-lithiated brine streams can be analyzed.
Watercycle will even course of the lithium-rich resolution to provide lithium carbonate salts. It is a key distinction of the method of Watercycle in comparison with different commonplace direct lithium extraction processes. If the take a look at is profitable, Watercycle and Energia will look at the potential for placing up a large-scale pilot testing facility in Italy.
“We’re delighted to be working with Energia Minerals who’ve recognised the potential of our distinctive strategy to lithium extraction from brines. This settlement is an additional validation of our proprietary membranes and processes, that are gaining rising traction each nationally and internationally. Every brine has completely different traits, and it’s a part of our improvement mannequin to check a number of brines to additional show the efficacy of our expertise and supply modern, sustainable options for lithium and significant mineral extraction from them,” mentioned Watercycle CEO Dr. Seb Leaper.
Supply: IM Mining