Clontarf Energy plc plans a 50-50 joint venture with NEXT-ChemX Corporation (NCX) to use the US-based company’s direct lithium ion extraction (DLE) technology in Bolivia.
PILOT PLANT
The parties have signed a heads of agreement with formation of the JV subject to final due diligence, and formal documentation expected to begin within the next 30 days.
Pilot plant testing and extraction will begin during March 2023, including preliminary testing as well as pilot plant operations with results expected by May 2023, said Clontarf Energy.
TECHNOLOGY
The company added that NCX’s ion extraction technology, which is patent pending, used the surface area of hollow fibre membranes to extract lithium ions from brines.
“The technology is a continuous process and does not require high pressure, temperature or electrolysis.
“It does not rely on osmotic processes, or costly filtration techniques electrolysis, but instead mimics biophysical processes of natural principals to induce ions in solution to cross the membrane barrier.
“This mimics how mammal organisms remove wastes from a donor liquid without physically mixing with an acceptor liquid.”
Clontarf Energy added that the technology was proven to be effective and efficient during laboratory testing, and believed it to an “innovative approach to direct lithium extraction”.
“Environmental attractions include limited energy and water consumption, extracting the targeted ions and generating minimal waste.
“It is suited for lithium extraction from Bolivian brines, where evaporative ponds are not optimal due to rainfall conditions, altitude and magnesium content.
“Laboratory / bench test analyses extracted ions from solutions at ambient temperatures and pressures – even in very low concentrations.
“The next step is to test selected brines from potential sources.”
PRIORITY BRINES
Subject to funding from Clontarf Energy, NCX is assembling a pilot plant in Texas to test large volumes of brines and aim to towards feasibility and commercialisation.
The plant will test circa 1,000 litres of each specific brine for a total 20,000 litres in the trial run, allowing a customised NCX DLE commercial system to be assembled in modular form and on site for field testing.
Clontarf Energy is also in discussions with Bolivia’s state owned lithium company (YLB) to test NCX’s proprietary DLE membrane technology on priority brines, which may include identified salares on which preliminary samples have been taken.
Negotiations with the proper authorities on the process of the source and volumes of brines and commercial terms, are expected to follow successful pilot plant operation.
HEADS OF AGREEMENT
The JV will cover the exclusive rights to the marketing, testing and deployment of the NCX DLE technology in Bolivia.
Clontarf Energy will contribute $500,000 towards construction of the pilot plant and testing as an exclusivity fee for the use of the NCX technology.
NCX will issue shares equal to $500,000 at its next financing to Clontarf Energy.
Clontarf Energy will issue 385 million new ordinary shares on proceeding with its $500,000 contribution for the pilot plant.
The company will issue a further 250m new ordinary shares after successful pilot processing of Bolivian brines through the NCX pilot plant; and an additional 250m new ordinary shares after entry into a construction and processing contract between the JV and the Bolivian authorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Chairman David Horgan added that projected global demand of lithium could not be delivered without “major Bolivian output”.
“The delay has been the shortcomings of evaporative ponds at high altitude, some rainfall and impurity levels.
“We believe that these constraints may be bypassed through innovative technology.
“In minimising environmental impact, we have worked to reduce water use by 95%, and minimise the footprint of on-site operations.
“Any Bolivian operations will conform with applicable laws, in partnership with the state lithium company, and respect high international operating standards.”
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