Ann: HMW Phase 1 Funding & Offtake Secured with US Based Partner, page-110

Nanofiltration Technology

1. Working Principle:

• Uses semi-permeable membranes with specific pore sizes to separate molecules based on size and charge
• Selectively blocks multivalent ions (like magnesium, calcium) while allowing monovalent ions (like lithium) to pass through
• Primarily a physical separation process

1. Position in Lithium Extraction Process:

• Typically replaces the traditional liming step in conventional processes
• Still requires evaporation ponds for initial concentration
• Mainly addresses the removal of impurities (magnesium, calcium, sulfates)

1. Characteristics:

• Lower energy consumption
• Reduced chemical reagent usage
• Lower environmental impact
• Modular deployment capabilities

DLE Technology (Direct Lithium Extraction)

1. Working Principle:

• Uses selective adsorbents, ion exchange resins, solvent extraction, or other specialized materials
• Directly extracts lithium ions selectively from brine
• Primarily chemical or physicochemical processes

1. Position in Lithium Extraction Process:

• Aims to completely replace or significantly reduce traditional evaporation pond processes
• Extracts lithium directly from raw brine with minimal or no evaporation concentration
• Provides a more comprehensive solution addressing both impurity removal and selective lithium extraction

1. Characteristics:

• Dramatically shortened production cycle (from traditional 12-18 months to hours or days)
• Increased lithium recovery rates (typically higher than traditional methods)
• Reduced land footprint (reducing or eliminating large evaporation ponds)
• Applicable to brine resources with lower lithium content
• Generally higher energy consumption

Key Differences Summary

1. Process Scope:

• Nanofiltration: Focused improvement of the impurity removal stage
• DLE Technology: Aims to restructure the entire lithium extraction process, particularly reducing or eliminating evaporation ponds

1. Technology Maturity:

• Nanofiltration: Relatively mature, already applied in multiple projects (as mentioned for Rio Tinto’s Rincon project and Eramet’s Centenario project)
• DLE Technology: Various methods still in development, with varying degrees of commercialization

1. Application Scenarios:

• Nanofiltration: Suitable as an optimization supplement to existing processes
• DLE Technology: More suitable for new projects or comprehensive overhauls of existing processes