Avalon's Lithium Hydroxide Product Successfully Tested as Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Material
Avalon's Lithium Hydroxide Product Successfully Tested
as Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Material
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 6, 2017) -
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(
TSX
: AVL) (
OTCQX
: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or
the "Company") is pleased to report on the results from laboratory testing of its lithium hydroxide product conducted recently by
the National Research Council of Canada ("NRC"). The lithium hydroxide product was made from petalite concentrate using
Avalon's proprietary hydrometallurgical process developed for the Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON.
The product sample, technically referred to as Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LiOH.H
2
O), was evaluated by NRC as a
potential feed material for lithium ion battery cathodes. Elemental analysis of Avalon's lithium hydroxide product confirmed that it
was of high purity with very minor amounts of non-lithium metal impurities within the range reported by commercial suppliers of
battery grade lithium hydroxide materials.
A lithium and manganese-rich nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LMR-NMC) cathode material was synthesised using Avalon's
lithium hydroxide product and demonstrated "excellent electrochemical performance" exhibiting a high capacity rate (209
mA/h/g), high initial coulombic efficiency (86%) and very little capacity fade (<1% after 60 cycles): all comparable to the
performance of material synthesised from a reference lithium hydroxide product.
NRC reported that the Avalon lithium hydroxide product would be a suitable precursor for the synthesis of lithium and
manganese-rich NMC-type cathode materials. Avalon has also identified opportunities to further improve the purity of its initial
lithium hydroxide product and will be following up with further testwork in the near future. This work will be supported by funding
received from
Northern Innovation Program
of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation ("NOHFC") as disclosed in the
Company's news release dated
June 27, 2017
.
The
Northern Innovation Program
is designed to support the development and
commercialization of new technologies that will contribute to future prosperity in Northern Ontario.
The Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") disclosed in the news release dated
September 27, 2016
, outlined
a scenario for economic production of a high purity lithium hydroxide product from its concentrate of the lithium mineral petalite
using its proprietary hydrometallurgical process. Avalon is now in the process of preparing an updated technical report to reflect
the revised mineral resource estimate following the recent drilling program, updated product pricing and modifications to the
process flowsheet.
Avalon is now planning to develop a Phase 1 demonstration plant in the Kenora area to not only confirm the efficiency of its
proprietary petalite flotation and lithium hydroxide production processes but also to provide large volume trial samples for
customers interested in its lithium hydroxide product and other lithium mineral by-products. Avalon is targeting an initial
production capacity for the demonstration plant of between 650 and 1,300 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per annum.
The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the Company's Senior Vice
President, Metallurgy and Technology Development, David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), and Donald S. Bubar, P.Geo. both Qualified
Persons under NI 43-101.
About Avalon
Advanced Materials
Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals
with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors
with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently
focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social
responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at
, or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-
364-4938.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to,
the
statement
that
the Avalon
lithium hydroxide product would be a suitable precursor for the synthesis of lithium and
manganese-rich NMC-type cathode materials
, that
Avalon has also identified opportunities to further improve the purity of its
initial lithium hydroxide product and will be following up with further testwork in the near future
, tha
t t
his work will be supported
by funding received from Northern Innovation Program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
, that
Avalon is now
in the process of preparing an updated technical report
,
that
Avalon is now planning to develop a Phase 1 demonstration
plant in the Kenora area
and that
Avalon is targeting an initial production capacity for the demonstration plant of between 650
and 1,300 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per annum
.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or
"be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions
management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there
may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market
conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses
as well as those risk factors set out in the
Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents
available under the Company's profile at
www.SEDAR.com
. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-
looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and
objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-
looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.