Volt Lithium starts tests of field unit in Texas

Volt Lithium (TSXV: VLT) has begun testing its first field unit in the Permian Basin of western Texas.

The unit will be able to process over 200,000 liters (1,250 barrels) of oilfield brine per day, representing a twofold increase from Volt’s previous processing capacity of 96,000 liters (600 barrels), the company said Monday.

The field unit is expected to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

“The introduction of this initial field unit marks the achievement of another critical milestone in our strategy to become one of North America’s first commercial producers of lithium from oilfield brine,” Alex Wylie, president and CEO of Volt Lithium said in a news release. “Volt has reached a critical inflection point with this achievement and is well-positioned to commence direct lithium extraction (DLE) operations in the field during Q3 2024, which aligns with our previous guidance.”

Testing of the unit in Texas comes as Volt looks to start commercial production next year at its flagship Rainbow Lake brine project in northwest Alberta, utilizing its proprietary DLE technology that has achieved 90% lithium recoveries at concentrations as low as 34 mg per litre. It released a positive preliminary economic assessment for the project last December and it’s among a handful of companies vying to become the first producer of lithium brines from historic oil and gas infrastructure on the Prairies.

Two-stage process

Volt’s DLE approach involves a two-stage process. The first focuses on removing contaminants from the brine before extraction. By partnering with a water treatment and filtration systems sub-contractor, the team ensured efficient brine treatment, facilitating the subsequent extraction process.

Volt’s direct lithium extraction approach involves a two-stage process. Credit: Volt Lithium

In the second stage, the breakthrough in their technology came with the development of specialized ion exchange beads.

“Unlike traditional beads, their innovative creation boasted a size of five microns and an impressive 800 times the surface area of other industry standard beads, enhancing their extraction efficiency,” Wylie told The Northern Miner last year.

This advancement allowed the team to consistently extract lithium from brines during various testing stages, including successful pilot projects.

Volt shares were up 6.9% to 46¢ apiece in Toronto on Monday, valuing the company at $64.5 million. Its shares traded in a 52-week range of 15¢ and 48¢.