- Nevada demonstration plant integrates direct lithium extraction (DLE), concentration and conversion technologies to sustainably produce lithium at scale
- Integrated technology solution produces lithium from brine 500 times faster than conventional methods while using significantly less land, water and chemical reagents
- Verified results confirm recovery rate of 96% lithium from brine at operational rates
HOUSTON--BUSINESS WIRE--
SLB today announced it has proven its solution for sustainable lithium production at scale at its demonstration plant in Clayton Valley, Nevada, to accelerate responsibly-sourced lithium products to market.
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The conventional alternative for producing lithium from brine at scale is evaporation. This process not only requires a significant amount of land but also results in massive water loss. Salt, underground minerals and used chemicals are then left at the surface, creating impact on biodiversity and the environment. SLB's sustainable lithium production solution enhances sustainability by reducing water use. The proprietary process also returns the spent brine, or the brine with a reduced lithium concentration, back to its source after the lithium is processed and separated.
The entire SLB solution, from extracting lithium from brine to converting it to technical-grade lithium carbonate, takes just hours. By comparison, evaporation methods can take up to 18 months and have a much lower recovery rate of 50 percent or less.
Lithium is sold commercially as lithium chloride, used as a feedstock for producing lithium metal; lithium carbonate, used in smartphones and short-range EVs; and lithium hydroxide, used in long-range EV batteries. SLB's solution is highly flexible and can be adjusted to produce any of these products.
In proving this solution at its pilot plant, SLB completed specific technical milestones allowing it to fully qualify under the earn-in agreement with Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. and, at its option, may acquire 100% ownership interest in the Clayton Valley Project.
1. Recovery rate independently verified by WETLAB-Western Environmental Testing Laboratory of Nevada. |
About SLB
SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition.
