Standard Lithium Breaks Ground for Its Direct Lithium Extraction Demonstration Plant

VANCOUVER, BC - Standard Lithium Ltd. has broken ground in El Dorado Arkansas for its first-of-a-kind direct lithium extraction demonstration plant that selectively extracts lithium from the tail brine that is a by-product of the existing bromine production operations run by LANXESS.

The Demonstration Plant will employ the Company’s proprietary technology that uses a solid sorbent material to selectively extract lithium from LANXESS South Plant’s tailbrine.  Designed to continuously process an input tailbrine flow of 50 gallons per minute (11.4 m3/hr), the plant is expected to achieve equivalent to an annual production of between 100 and 150 tonnes per annum Lithium Carbonate.  The environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium.

Andy Robinson, President and COO, said, “Standard Lithium is continuing to execute its disciplined development strategy.  We are separating ourselves from our peers by partnering with a global chemical company with real operational experience, deploying demonstration-scale proof-of-concept technology at an operating brine-processing plant, and removing financing and off-take risks through our joint venture strategy.  Ground-breaking at the site is a key step in realizing our rapid development timelines, and we look forward to providing more updates as this phase of the project moves towards commissioning.”

CEO Robert Mintak said, “No new lithium mine has been built in the United States in over five decades; breaking ground at our El Dorado site represents a major achievement towards changing that.  We anticipate our project and progress will be keenly watched as lithium has taken on significant political interest with the White House 2017 executive order and subsequent pending legislation aimed to boost domestic supplies of critical minerals.”

The company’s address is 888-1100 Melville Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6, (604) 409-8154, standardlithium.com.