Lithium, page-4

I couldn't quiet remember so I queried AI. Thanks for reminding me! Min Res are trialling it, and will probably be the first full plant. Below is what AI said:

What Is LieNA® Technology?

LieNA® (Lithium Extraction from Non-conventional Approaches) is a patented hydrometallurgical process developed by Livium Ltd (formerly Lithium Australia) in collaboration with ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation). It’s designed to extract lithium from fine and low-grade spodumene, which is typically discarded as waste in conventional mining.

Key Innovations:

• No high-temperature conversion: Traditional methods require heating spodumene to ~1,000°C. LieNA® skips this, reducing energy use.
• Autoclave reaction: Fine spodumene reacts with caustic soda to form lithium sodalite.

Selective leaching: Lithium is then recovered using weak acid, yielding high-purity lithium phosphate.Battery-grade potential: Ongoing development aims to produce lithium carbonate suitable for lithium-ion batteries.

Who’s Using or Developing LieNA®?

1. Livium Ltd (ASX:LIT)

• Developer and patent holder of LieNA®.
• Focused on sustainable lithium extraction and battery recycling.
• Partnered with ANSTO since 2015 to develop the technology.

2. Mineral Resources Ltd (MinRes)

• Major Australian mining company.
• Entered a joint development agreement with Livium.
• Invested $4.5 million to fund pilot and demonstration plants.
• Plans to use LieNA® to boost yields from its lithium operations in Western Australia.

Why It Matters

• Efficiency: LieNA® can recover up to 95% of lithium from spodumene concentrate, compared to 50–70% with conventional methods.
• Sustainability: Targets waste streams, reducing environmental impact.
• Economic upside: Potential to increase lithium yields by up to 50%, improving profitability.
• Strategic advantage: Positions Australia as a leader in lithium processing innovation.