MGX Minerals Nears Completion of First Commercial Rapid Lithium Extraction System
October 16 2017 - 10:14AM
InvestorsHub NewsWire
MGX Minerals Processes High Magnesium Content Lithium Brine of
76,000mg/L Mg; Nears Completion of First Commercial Rapid Lithium
Extraction System
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / October 16, 2017 / MGX
Minerals Inc. (“MGX” or the “Company”) (CSE: XMG / FKT: 1MG / OTCQB: MGXMF) and engineering partner
PurLucid Treatment Solutions (“PurLucid”) are
pleased to announce advancement in magnesium extraction. The
pretreatment removed all of the 76,000 mg/L of magnesium, reducing
the post treatment concentration to non-detect levels (<1 mg/L)
from lithium brine bulk samples shipped from a U.S. site currently
under evaluation.
The recent optimization focused on addressing complex brines
with very high magnesium levels as well as extraction to a common
marketable form of magnesium compound. The magnesium was extracted
in the form of magnesium hydroxide. Magnesium hydroxide is a
commonly used industrial mineral with primary use in environmental
applications such as municipal wastewater treatment and
desulphurization of flue gases from power plants. The ratio of
magnesium to lithium has long been a major issue in traditional
lithium brine extraction and high magnesium has often been
prohibitive in the traditional extraction of lithium from brine
using solar evaporation / conventional processing as well as
selective lithium extraction technologies due to the similarity of
molecular properties of lithium and magnesium ions. Work was
completed at the PurLucid facility in Calgary, Alberta with
independent assay completed by EDS at GR Petrology Calgary,
Alberta. The extraction technology continues to rely on previously
developed low energy, low cost nanofiltration and is currently
covered under patent and patent pending applications.
“Magnesium in brine, often referred to as hardness in water,
has traditionally been one of the major issues in processing of
lithium concentrate. The lithium magnesium ratio was traditionally
one of the primary factors in consideration of the viability of
lithium brine projects. One of the major factors in development of
South American brine sources was the relatively low magnesium
content. Alternatively, high magnesium content brine sources
have been slow to develop such as those in the United States,
China, and the Middle East for this reason,” stated MGX Minerals
CEO Jared Lazerson. Adding, ”Removal of very high levels of
magnesium opens up a large number of global lithium brine sources
for consideration that were previously considered too high in
magnesium. This represents a triumph of technology over perceived
resource quality, in particular, that the magnesium has been
extracted in a common form of widely used industrial mineral
compound.”
Magnesium Hydroxide Product
Magnesium was recovered primarily as a hydroxide. The recovered
magnesium solids contained potassium, sodium and sulfur due to
retention of fluid in the pore matrix. The total amount of these
other components was estimated at 22% by weight as hydroxides and
oxides. EDS analysis of the solids confirmed that the solids were
71% Mg(OH)2 with 18% NaCl (Table 1) consistent with the entrapment
of brine in the mineral matrix. The NaCl can be removed and purity
of the magnesium hydroxide product improved by rinsing the product
during recovery. Rinsing requires use of fresh water which will be
evaluated against the tradeoff of a magnesium product with the
above noted contaminants upon evaluation of samples by MGX’s
industrial mineral distribution partner.
Table 1: Mineral composition interpreted from EDS analysis
of recovered Mg(OH)2 solids
Mineral
|
Percent by weight
|
Comments
|
Mg(OH)2
|
71%
|
Solid dewatered in process
|
NaCl
|
18%
|
Reduction possible with rinsing
|
SO2 +4
|
2.7%
|
Reduction possible with rinsing
|
NaOH
|
1.6%
|
Reduction possible with rinsing
|
KOH
|
1.7%
|
Reduction possible with rinsing
|
Petrolithium™ Commercial System Completed
Buildout of the first commercial brine treatment system for rapid
lithium recovery is near completion. The NFLi5 (120 cubic meter per
day / 750 bwpd) unit will be ready for deployment in November.
Utilizing a recent investment by MGX, PurLucid has opened a new
commissioning facility in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The facility will
be utilized to assemble and commission units as well as in-house
ongoing research and development activities.
Wastewater Treatment Units
Water treatment only units for deployment into the Alberta
oilfields are currently being fabricated. Three additional
commercial units are now being built. PurLucid expects to
deploy the first unit in late 2017 with subsequent units being
deployed in early 2018. Final implementation and planning of
commercial system deployment with these operators remains ongoing.
Cross applications of technology in water treatment with and
without mineral extraction / desalinization continue to be pursued
throughout North America with strong interest from oil and gas as
well as environmental companies.
Optimization of Lithium Extraction
MGX and PurLucid continue to upgrade the brine filtration and
pre-treatment cleanup process with a focus on optimizing the final
lithium product and upgrading potential by-products including the
previously referenced magnesium, as well as boron and potassium
concentrates.
Commercial Offtake Agreement Status
Lithium chloride recovered from brine has been tested and accepted
for upgrade to lithium hydroxide based on previously shipped
samples to MGX’s UK based upgrader. Lithium hydroxide is the
primary form of lithium used in lithium-ion batteries as an
electrolyte. Additional samples were shipped this week to a
major consumer of lithium feedstock for evaluation.
Negotiations remain ongoing for large volume off take.
Qualified Person
The technical portions of this press release were prepared and
reviewed by Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration
for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person
within the meaning of National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101
Standards.
About PurLucid
PurLucid’s exclusively licensed and patented nanoflotation
technology was designed specifically for oilfield environments. The
technology separates impurities from oil and gas wastewater and
produces clean water as a final product. This allows for the
recycling or controlled release of oilfield wastewater and reduces
or eliminates downhole and associated transportation costs. Water
handling costs are one of the largest operating costs in the
oilfield and oilsands operations today.
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