Lithium Australia denies using toxic chemicals to develop technology March 9, 2017NewsBen Creagh
Lithium Australia wants to bust a myth that a process it is developing for lithium recovery uses toxic reagents. The Perth-based company is developing a technology called Sileach, a hydrometallurgical process aimed at enhancing the recovery of lithium from hard rock.
Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said there had been “a lot of speculation about its 100 per cent owned Sileach process” incorporating the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF).
The speculation stems from a recent announcement by Lithium Australia takeover target, Lepidico, which is currently the subject of $23.8 million bid.
Lithium Australia has previously stated it is using halogen chemicals to develop Sileach, which Lepidico believes is a “broad definition” and “does not clearly identify the reagents used in the process”.
“As Lithium Australia has not referred to its process as a ‘chloride process’, which would employ hydrochloric acid, Lepidico holds considerable concern that Lithium Australia is evaluating a process that utilises fluoride-based reagents, which may be highly toxic and difficult to commercialise on occupational health and safety grounds,” Lepidico said in a statement.
In response, Griffin commented: “There is speculation that Sileach uses very toxic reagents, in particular HF.”
“We can tell you Sileach does not use HF and the main fluorine product produced is hexafluorosilicic acid which is commonly used as a source of fluoride for fluoridation of domestic water supplies – if you think that is dangerous, you had better stop drinking water.”
hexafluorosilicic acid also known as hydrofluorsilicic acid
