Water treatment company Aquatech has been awarded a contract for the lithium refining and purification process plants by Lithium Americas for the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, the largest known lithium reserve in the US. 

Aquatech specializes in delivering process technology for the refining and purification of battery-grade lithium chemical products from clays, brines and hard rock. The company has commenced work on the project, which includes multiple process trains incorporating evaporation and crystallization systems for the purification and chemical production of lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃).

In partnership with ICD Process Technologies, a division of Aquatech, Lithium Americas has achieved over 99.9% purity of lithium carbonate from Thacker Pass lithium-bearing clays. The demonstration results will enable Lithium Americas to advance Phase 1 of the Thacker Pass facility producing 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate per year. Thacker Pass is expected to be one of the largest lithium developments in the world, with the potential to produce over 80,000 metric tons annually.

“Delivering innovative process technology to enable critical mineral recovery from extraction to high-purity products for EV battery production and battery recycling is a top priority at Aquatech,” said Venkee Sharma, the company’s Executive Chairman. 

Source: Aquatech