LithiumBank Confirms up to 95% Lithium Recovery and over 99% Impurity Rejection from DLE Pilot Testing Using SLB's Integrated Lithium Production Solution Technology on Boardwalk and Park Place Brines
LithiumBank Confirms up to 95% Lithium
Recovery and over 99% Impurity Rejection
from DLE Pilot Testing Using SLB's Integrated
Lithium Production Solution Technology on
Boardwalk and Park Place Brines
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2025) -
LithiumBank Resources Corp.
(TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF)
("
LithiumBank
'' or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce results
from the Direct Lithium Extraction ("
DLE
") pilot campaign using SLB's integrated lithium production
solution on bulk brine samples collected from the Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine projects
("
Boardwalk
"), ("
Park Place
") located in west-central Alberta. The DLE tests based on ILiAD
technology as part of the SLB's well-to-product integrated lithium production solution successfully
recovered up to 95% of lithium from both Park Place and Boardwalk along with exceptional impurity
removal of >99% for both brines (Table 1). Boardwalk and Park Place (Figure 1) combined host a total
of 5,195,000 tonnes LCE measured and indicated at a grade of 81.6 mg/L lithium (Boardwalk only) and
24,474,000 tonnes LCE inferred at a grade of 80.1 mg/L lithium (Table 3) as recently announced on
Feb. 20, 2025
.
Highlights:
Up to 95% lithium recovery from pilot testing of Boardwalk and Park Place brines.
Greater than 99% overall combined impurity rejection, rejecting 98.80% of boron, 99.97% of
calcium, 99.96% of magnesium, 99.98% of potassium, 99.98% of sodium, and 99.97% of
strontium (Table 2).
Boardwalk and Park Place piloting campaigns combined processed approximately 70,000 litres
of brine
Piloting results can be used to determine operating parameters for a ~25,000 cubic metres (m
3
)
per day commercial scale DLE unit
The DLE technology absorbent in other piloting, processing alternate brines, has been shown to
last 1000s of cycles over 6 years, has been shown to be able to be reconditioned and may have a
service life of over 10 years
ILiAD adsorbent materials are sourced and manufactured in North America
"We are very pleased with the results from the Boardwalk and Park Place DLE piloting campaigns that
produced an exceptionally pure lithium chloride ("
LiCl
") product with up to 95% lithium recovery. The
results demonstrate both projects are highly compatible with the SLB integrated solution,"
commented
Kevin Piepgrass, COO of LithiumBank. "
After visiting the SLB lithium production demonstration plant
in Clayton Valley, Nevada this past year, it is clear SLB can scale-up and optimize the DLE process
within the entire end-to-end flowsheet that produces a battery grade lithium carbonate. We look forward
to continuing our collaboration with the ILiAD/SLB team as LithiumBank assesses the best method of
extracting lithium from brine at Boardwalk and Park Place. We will continue advanced DLE, and post-
DLE test work with additional strategic groups."
The tested DLE technology is a drop-in lithium recovery solution that is part of SLB's well-to-product fully
integrated lithium extraction flow sheet. The commercial scale modules designed for LithiumBank can
operate at ~4,815 gpm (~25,000 m3/day) and can produce ~3,500 tpa LCE based on grades and
reported lithium recovery from Boardwalk. This flow is a 10th of what was studied in the Company's PEA
LithiumBank published in February 2024 and internal financials can be used to determine this approach
has a high likelihood of success at significantly lower financial risk.
The DLE pilot testing of Park Place and Boardwalk brines was conducted at the ILiAD facility in Central
City, California in November and December 2024 respectively. Each pilot test consisted of
approximately 34 cubic metres ("
m
3
") at a flow rate of approximately 360 ml/min (Table 1) with a runtime
of 101.6 hours (22.9 cycles) and 111.5 hours (25 cycles) at Boardwalk and Park Place respectively.
Both pilot campaigns maintained a pH between 5-6 and a temperature of approximately 60 degrees
Celsius (°C).
Table 1
. Boardwalk and Park Place DLE pilot test parameters
Test Parameters
Boardwalk
Park Place
Lithium Recovery (%)
at steady state
94.5
95.0
Test Time (hours)
101.6
111.5
Cycles
22.9
25
pH
5-6
5-6
Temperature (°C)
60
60
Flow Rate (mL/min)
360
360
The piloting campaigns began with a 'tuning phase' to establish operational parameters before reaching
a steady state (3 cycles on Boardwalk and 12.3 cycles on Park Place). At 'steady state' the DLE
process is run continuously to achieve repeatable lithium recovery rates and maintain consistent impurity
rejection. At steady state, the pilot operations achieved high lithium recovery rates of 95% for Park Place
brine and 94.5% for Boardwalk brine (Table 1). Impurity rejection for both brines were similar and
generated an exceptionally pure LiCl product averaging over 99% impurity rejection (Table 2).
Table 2
. Impurity rejection from Boardwalk and Park Place brines.
Boardwalk
Park Place
Element
Percent
Rejection
Percent
Rejection
Boron (B)
98.82%
98.77%
Calcium (Ca)
99.96%
99.97%
Magnesium (Mg)
99.96%
99.95%
Manganese (Mn)
96.08%
96.64%
Potassium (K)
99.97%
99.98%
Sodium (Na)
99.97%
99.98%
Strontium (Sr)
99.97%
99.97%
Average
99.25%
99.32%
The bulk brine sample from Boardwalk was collected from well 100/10-06-069-21W5/00 ("
10-6
") (Figure
1) during a 48 hour pump test first reported in the Company's news release dated
August 8, 2024
. The
lithium grade from the 10-6 well was reported to be 82 mg/L (see the Company's news release dated
September 23, 2024
). Bulk brine from Park Place was collected from well 100/12-03-059-23W5/00
("
12-3
") and reported an average grade of 77.2 mg/L lithium (see the Company's news release dated
January 17, 2023
) (Figure 1).
Table 3
: LithiumBank' Total Lithium Resource Holdings from Boardwalk and Park Place
Project
Resource Category
Lithium Grade
(mg/L)
Tonnes LCE
LithiumBank
Combined
Resources
(tonnes LCE)
Lithium Grade
(mg/L)
Combined Category
Boardwalk
Measured
81.2
1,671,000
5,195,000
81.6
Measured &
Indicated
Indicated
81.8
3,524,000
Inferred
79.0
2,777,000
24,474,000
80.1
Inferred
Park
Place
Inferred
80.2
21,697,000
24,474,000
80.1
Inferred
*The NI 43-101 Park Place resource estimate entitled "LithiumBank Resources Corp. Park Place NI 43-101 Technical Report" effectively dated June
24, 2024, is available on SEDAR+
**The NI 43-101 Boardwalk resource estimate entitled "LithiumBank Resources Corp. Boardwalk NI 43-101 Technical Report" effectively dated
February 20, 2025, is available on SEDAR+
***LithiumBank is following the same systematic development strategy at Park Place as it has with Boardwalk Note: Mineral resources are not mineral
reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will ever be upgraded
to a higher category. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-
political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
Figure 1
. Map showing Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine NI 43-101 resource estimates and wells
used for bulk brine sampling.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10140/248387_figure1.jpg
The lithium yield recovery was calculated using ICP-OES data and the overall lithium recovery by ICP
was determined by averaging the results obtained from three different percent recovery methods:
Method 1: Lithium Recovery ICP Inputs
Recovery = Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP / Lithium Mass in Feed by ICP
Method 2: Lithium Recovery ICP Outputs
Recovery = Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP / (Lithium Mass in Depleted Brine by ICP +
Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP)
Method 3: Lithium Recovery ICP Outputs
Recovery = 1 − (Measured Lithium Mass in Depleted by ICP / Lithium Mass in Feed Brine by ICP)
To ensure the accurate normalization of bias from instrument error and to reconcile the overall lithium
mass balance during pilot tests, three methods are typically employed. Utilizing multiple methods, rather
than relying on just one, helps predict a realistic recovery rate by avoiding potential overestimation of
performance or underestimation due to lithium loss or gain from system errors.
Comments by the Qualified Person:
The data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying this announcement
have been verified by the QP through review and analysis of test data, and discussions with the
DLE provider.
Limitations to the verification include independent measurement of brine composition and density
for recovery estimates were not obtained, where SLB and LithiumBank report slightly differing
values between well samples and piloted samples, therefore third-party verification of values could
add additional certainty to results.
Based upon the testing data and other information provided, the DLE process proposed for this
project appears to be sufficiently defined for this early stage of the project but is subject to changes
in circumstance or understanding as the project develops.
The ultimate recoveries of lithium are dependent on the full process, not just the DLE extraction unit
and must take into account any or all potential losses from reservoir to final product outlet.
To advance the DLE technology to the next project stage additional trials are recommended to
optimize this DLE process for the Boardwalk and Park Place brines, which should include longer
pilot runs to confirm the sorbent lifespan and either regeneration or replacement cycle for the
brines.
The scientific and technical information relating to the Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
presented in this news release has been reviewed and consent to publicly disclose this data is provided
by George Brindle, P.Eng., of GLJ Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta. George Brindle, P.Eng. is independent of
LithiumBank and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
About LithiumBank Resources Corp.
LithiumBank Resources Corp., is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on advancing its two
flagship projects, Boardwalk and Park Place, in Western Canada. The Company holds 1,855,915 acres
of brown-field lithium brine licenses, across three (3) districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The
Company has pilot tested multiple mature Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technologies and is working
toward establishing commercial lithium production by a modular approach.
Contact:
Rob Shewchuk
CEO & Director
(778) 987-9767
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news
release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates,
plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without
limitation, the Company's expectations regarding piloting results being used to determine operating
parameters, the Company's expectations regarding DLE technology, the Boardwalk and Park Place
projects being highly compatible with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB can scale up and optimize
the DLE process within the entire end-to-end flowsheet that produces a battery lithium grade
carbonate, the Company continuing its collaboration with ILiAD/SLB team, the Company continuing
advanced DLE and post-DLE test work with additional strategic groups and statements regarding the
operating and production capacity of the DLE technology are forward-looking statements and contain
forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such
words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should" or
"would" or occur.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the
Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release,
including that the piloting results can be used to determine operating parameters for a ~25,000 cubic
metres per day commercial scale DLE unit, that the Boardwalk and Park Place projects are highly
compatible with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB can scale up and optimize the DLE process
within the entire end-to-end flowsheet that produces a battery lithium grated carbonate, that the
Company will continue its collaboration with the ILiAD/SLB team, that the Company will continue
advanced DLE and post-DLE test work with additional strategic groups and that the DLE technology
will operate and produce as anticipated.
These 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 the
Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements or forward-looking information. Important risks that may cause actual results to vary,
include, without limitation, that the piloting results will not be able to be used to determine operating
parameters as anticipated, that the Boardwalk and Park Place projects will not be highly compatible
with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB will not scale up and optimize the DLE process as
anticipated, and that the DLE technology will not operate and produce as anticipated.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. 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. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking
information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with
applicable securities laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248387