Enertopia Announces 85.62%
Lithium Recovery Rate
Vancouver, BC -- March 6, 2017 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire --
Enertopia Corporation (ENRT) on the OTCQB and (TOP) on the CSE (the
"Company" or "Enertopia") is pleased to announce it has received
results from Genesis Water Technologies Inc. (GWT) lithium recovery
bench tests of four synthetic brine samples using GWTs patent
pending process.
The first goal of the four separate bench tests was to confirm
the estimated 90% recovery rate of Lithium (Li) from various brines
sources as per the June 2016 theoretical feasibility study. The
recovery rates for Lithium in the four synthetic brines analyzed
were from 77.87% to 85.62% over a testing period of 24 hours.
"The GWT technical team believes that adjustments to the
recovery process could result in shorter uptake times and
potentially higher recovery rates of Lithium going forward." stated
Nick Nicholas, from GWT.
The Table below shows the salient chemical features of the four
samples and respective Lithium recovery rates for the Lithium:
Test Sample
|
Ca
PPM
|
Cl
PPM
|
H2S
PPM
|
Na
PPM
|
Mg
PPM
|
Li
PPM
|
Mg/Li
Ratio
|
Li
Recovery
|
A
|
520
|
88,000
|
NA
|
46,000
|
500
|
190
|
2.63
|
77.87%
|
B
|
29,300
|
176,679
|
364
|
72,500
|
2,243
|
423
|
5.30
|
80.00%
|
C
|
770
|
79,100
|
NA
|
44,600
|
1,850
|
490
|
3.76
|
85.62%
|
D
|
170
|
163,000
|
NA
|
56,000
|
23,000
|
580
|
39.66
|
81.50%
|
AVG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81.25%
|
"One of the primary positive takeaways from the test was the
high recovery rate from sample D from Bolivia, with its very high
Mg/Li ratio. Bolivia has some of the worlds highest Lithium values
but unlocking Lithium from Bolivian brines has been a very
difficult problem to overcome historically due to the very high
Mg/Li ratios in those brines. Enertopia sourced data with the
highest Mg values and lowest Li values in its recent tests to
determine how the GWT recovery process would perform under
difficult conditions and it passed this first test flawlessly,"
Stated President Robert McAllister.
The second goal of the bench tests was to confirm that GWTs
Lithium recovery process would result in a final product of 99.5%
or greater purity of battery grade Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) as
was indicated by the June 2016 theoretical feasibility study.
Lithium Carbonate products from the processing of the 4 brine
samples are being shipped to a third-party, independent lab and
Enertopia will provide the marketplace with an update once purity
tests have begun.
Data from four historic samples submitted to GWT for the bench
tests were from:
Sample A Clayton Valley, USA
Sample B, Oil well waste water mid-continent USA
Sample C, Argentina, Salar
Sample D, Bolivia Salar
The purpose of these samples in the bench test is to determine
how the technology and proposed recovery process would be impacted
by differing chemical compositions and values of Lithium in the
brines. The focus is to find out what Lithium concentration in the
brine would be needed for economic recovery in the differing brines
per their unique chemical compositions.
If proven economically viable, the use of the proposed
technology could offer a faster track to production than could be
expected with most mining projects - and at a far smaller capex.
More importantly for the environment, the pilot plant and
subsequent commercial plant would make up a very small footprint
and not the thousands of acres that are commonly used in the
enriching process for Lithium brine deposits around the world.
"Enertopia looks forward to the results of the 3rd party
independent laboratory testing to determine the purity of lithium
carbonate product produced from processing of the 4 brine samples
by GWTs recovery process. Modern technology is revolutionizing
Lithium production technology and providing a much better way to
recover lithium while protecting our environment. We are
enthusiastic in becoming leaders in this evolution," Stated
President and CEO Robert McAllister
The Qualified person:
The technical data in this news release have been reviewed by
Douglas Wood, P.Geol a qualified person under the terms of NI
43-101.
About Enertopia
Enertopias shares are quoted in Canada with symbol TOP and in
the United States with symbol ENRT. For additional information,
please visit www.enertopia.com or call Robert McAllister, the
President at 1.250.765.6412
This release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Statements which are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements. The Company makes forward-looking public statements
concerning its expected future financial position, results of
operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy,
products and services, potential and financing of its health and
wellness, mining projects, competitive positions, growth
opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future
operations, including statements that include words such as
"anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect,"
"intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar
expressions that are forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company's
best judgment based upon current information and involve a number
of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that
other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking
statements., foreign exchange and other financial markets; changes
of the interest rates on borrowings; hedging activities; changes in
commodity prices; changes in the investments and expenditure
levels; litigation; legislation; environmental, judicial,
regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in
which Enertopia Corporation operates. There can be
no assurance that the brine recovery system will be effective for
the recovery of Lithium and if effective will be economic or have
any positive impact on Enertopia. The User should refer to the risk
disclosures set out in the periodic reports and other disclosure
documents filed by Enertopia Corporation from time to time with
regulatory authorities.
The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release