Alternative lithium materials developer Lithium Australia has developed a refining process that it said will eventually produce high-purity cathodes, bypassing supply restrictions posed by downstream supplies of lithium carbonate and hydroxide.
It has refined lithium phosphate generated by a pilot plant utilising its proprietary SiLeach process, creating a product suitable for the generation of lithium-ion phosphate powder for the production of lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium Australia first announced its ability to produce lithium-ion batteries from mine waste on 21 November last year. Since then it has refined its processes to reduce the concentration of impurities such as potassium, sodium and sulphur to improve battery performance.
The upgraded refining processes will be integrated into the next SiLeach pilot plant test that will be done at Ansto Minerals in Sydney later this year. Lithium phosphate will then be converted into cathode material and lithium-ion battery cells for testing in Brisbane.
"Process efficiency is the key to cost reduction in the battery industry. Our processing technologies also have great potential for the lithium brine industry," said chief executive Adrian Griffin.
