Green energy lithium process

Voltaic, Enertrex to develop Li production process

2016-10-31 08:01 ET - News Release

Mr. Darryl Jones reports
VOLTAIC MINERALS CORP. SIGNS MOU WITH ENERTREX CORPORATION TO DEVELOP METALLURGICAL PROCESS FOR LITHIUM BRINE PRODUCTION
Voltaic Minerals Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Enertrex Corp. to begin process development and optimization for the expected lithium brine solution extracted from the Green energy project using Enertrex's selective lithium process. Enertrex has developed a system that selectively extracts lithium from lithium-bearing solutions. The purpose of the MOU is to determine whether the process can be used in a commercial operation and at competitive extraction cost.

Phase I will consist of developing and demonstrating the lithium selective capability with a synthetic mixture resembling that of the historic results that were collected out of oil and gas production wells from the Green energy project with a stated objective of an operating cost goal that is comparable with other lithium carbonate brine projects. Simultaneous to this work, the company will try to define a resource for a targeted brine sampling work program. Phase I is expected to take 90 days. Darryl Jones, president of Voltaic Minerals, stated: "Initial understanding of metallurgical processing is an integral step toward the production of lithium carbonate from supersaturated brines. Voltaic Minerals Corp. is extremely excited to have Enertrex and their team of technical experts working alongside us."

Assuming phase I is successful, phase II will consist of optimizing the capability of the selective lithium process on the Green energy project brine as well as providing opportunity for the company to begin field testing other brines and lithium feed stocks that would be ideal for the process. The goal of phase II is to identify ideal brine metallurgy for the process and obtain a consistent source of supply for the development of phase III. Phase II is expected to take 90 days to complete.
If the company is satisfied with the results of phase II, phase III will involve the construction and demonstrations of a 20-gallon-per-minute pilot unit designed to test lithium-bearing solution and confirm operating costs of a commercial system. Demonstration of the unit using brine from, but not limited to, the Green energy project will be carried out for further confirmation giving the company the ability to source brines globally. Phase III is also expected to take 90 days to complete.

The process
The Enertrex technology uses a series of off-the-shelf sets of equipment in modular fashion to achieve a novel result, which is to take brine that is relatively dilute in terms of lithium grade but contains substantial concentrations of other minerals, and deliver clean and concentrated lithium brine. It is important to bear in mind that this process essentially replaces solar evaporation and much of the traditional chemical treatment to remove impurities such as magnesium, calcium and boron. A key cost driver for a successful lithium project is managing the prohibitive cost of impurity removal from a solution.

The Enertrex system utilizes a reaction/transport mechanism to selectively extract lithium in a process using modified commercial units. If all three phases prove successful, Voltaic Minerals and Enertrex will jointly work on commercialization of the selective lithium process for use on but not limited to brines from the Green energy project, and Voltaic will be granted the worldwide exclusive rights to market and utilize the process for lithium extraction.

Under the MOU, the parties will work toward preparing and signing definitive agreements to more fully elaborate on the terms in the MOU. The corporation is paying the costs of the three phases in exchange for the licence to utilize the development process technology.