US fertilizer producer Intrepid Potash is developing a lithium processing project in Wendover, Utah, in partnership with technology firms Aquatech and Adionics.
The project would produce battery grade lithium carbonate from brine byproduct at Intrepid's potash facility.
Project testing results achieved a lithium extraction rate of 92.9pc, producing an overall lithium chloride purity above 99.5pc, Intrepid said. The produced lithium from Adionics' facility was further processed by Aquatech to validate the conversion and refining to battery-grade lithium carbonate at 99.5pc, meeting battery manufacturing specifications.
"We believe the existing infrastructure at our Wendover potash operation and the presence of lithium in our post-process brine differentiates this opportunity from other lithium development projects," Intrepid chief executive Kevin Crutchfield said.
Crutchfield said capital risk will be limited as Intrepid maintains focus on core fertilizer operations, but that the timing for lithium projects is "perfect" given the US' emphasis on increasing domestic critical minerals production.
Intrepid, Aquatech and Adionics will move forward with their joint development following the successful test results, but the project's timeline was not detailed.
