Patent protection for lithium extraction KIT Scientists Obtain...

Patent protection for lithium extraction

KIT Scientists Obtain Patent Protection for Minimally Invasive Technology for Mining Lithium in Geothermal Plants.

New Process Enables Lithium Mining in Germany (01.07.2020).
https://www.kit.edu/kit/english/pi_2020_054_new-process-enables-lithium-mining-in-germany.php

Quotes: "A mineral treasure is hidden in rock formations deeply below the Upper Rhine Trench: dissolved in salty thermal water reservoirs, considerable quantities of the element lithium are waiting to be exploited. “As far as we know, there can be up to 200 milligrams per liter,” says geoscientist Dr. Jens Grimmer from the Institute of Applied Geosciences (AGW) of KIT: "If we consistently use this potential, we could cover a considerable part of the demand in Germany.” Currently, Germany is a net importer of the coveted resource that is mainly needed for the production of battery cells for electric vehicles and is thus of great importance for the climate protection program of the Federal Government."

"Together with his research colleague Dr. Florencia Saravia from the research unit of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) at the Engler-Bunte Institute (EBI) of KIT, Grimmer developed such a process and KIT now filed a patent application for it. “In a first step, the lithium ions are filtered out of the thermal water and in a second step, they are further concentrated until lithium can be precipitated as a salt,” says Grimmer."

"Together with industry partners, the two scientists are now in the process of developing a test facility for lithium extraction."

"In this first prototype facility, which is to be built in a geothermal plant in the Upper Rhine Trench, several kilograms of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide will be extracted in a first step. If the tests are successful, the construction of a large-scale plant is planned."

>>> The large scale plant will be built in Geothermal power plant Landau. <<<
https://hotcopper.com.au/threads/demonstration-plant-in-landau-march-2022.6345649/?post_id=56747089


Dr. Jens Grimmer is listed under "Lithium Extraction from Thermal Water" ("Lithiumgewinnung aus Thermalwasser") in the company presentation of GeoThermal Engineering, which was acquired by Vulcan Energy.https://www.geo-t.de/de/unternehmen/

https://vul.live.irmau.com/site/PDF/1891811f-0f91-47ce-a6db-393ab5d5e221/Acquisitionofworldleadinggeothermalteam