E3 Lithium to Broaden Lab Facilities to Produce Lithium Carbonate

E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), commonly known as "E3 Lithium," a pioneer in Canadian lithium, is pleased to unveil its plans to enhance the Calgary-based laboratory by integrating equipment for the finishing and manufacturing of battery materials, including lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

Since early 2021, E3 Lithium's development facility, situated at the University of Calgary, has been in operation. The facility's primary emphasis has been on advancing and validating Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) processing technologies. The internal team of specialists has played a crucial role in guiding E3 Lithium through the essential phases of technology development and selection. This includes conducting verification tests on third-party DLE processes to inform the design and decision-making process for the commercial facility. Additionally, E3 maintains an in-house analytics team, facilitating the efficient and rapid generation of consistent results across various testing procedures.

"Establishing this in-house capability provides substantial benefits in terms of result precision, cost efficiency, and adaptability," remarked Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. " Our skilled laboratory team will validate and refine the process by constructing and operating scaled-down equipment that closely mirrors commercial setups. The outcomes generated by the lab will inform the design and functioning of the Company’s commercial facility, enhancing the efficiency of our future commercial operations through timely and precise data and analysis."

The Lithium Carbonate Production Process After DLE

Following Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), E3 Lithium's brine yields lithium ions in a highly efficient manner, resulting in a concentrated lithium-rich stream. Converting this lithium-rich solution (liquid) into lithium carbonate (solid) involves conventional chemical reactions and standard industry processes, consisting primarily of two key stages: purification with volume reduction and the precipitation of lithium products.

• Refinement and Volume Reduction: This phase eliminates contaminants, predominantly calcium, magnesium, and boron, from the lithium-rich product stream obtained through DLE, while also enhancing lithium concentration and reclaiming water for process reuse. Technologies employed in this stage may include precipitation, nanofiltration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis (RO), and evaporation.

• Precipitation: Concluding the process, this step entails the conversion of the purified, concentrated lithium solution by blending it with soda ash, resulting in the formation of solid lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) precipitate.

E3 Lithium will conduct thorough analysis of the carbonate product to detect impurities, providing invaluable insights into the process prerequisites essential for attaining battery-grade lithium carbonate. Should adjustments be required, the Company will optimize design and/or operating parameters accordingly. Additionally, E3 Lithium will submit the produced carbonate to certified third-party laboratories for independent validation. Furthermore, the Company is exploring the prospect of developing lithium hydroxide production, with emphasis currently placed on advancing carbonate production as the initial phase.