News 
Market Data 
Discover
Replies to post #792 on LITHIUM STOCKS AND CHARTS
11/26/22 4:21 PM
Cristián Saavedra López you touched the point. The design of each project must be adjusted to the hydrogeological conditions of the site and not ultimately to the availability of sufficient fresh water, which is generally necessary to perform the DLE. There is no such thing as free lunch, so it does not have any negative impact on the environment. Many DLE technologies still need more fresh water than the traditional process, let alone energy demand. It will be a task of environmental authorities in cooperation with industry, universities and other research centers, to establish clear and applicable criteria for the design of lithium projects. I am sure that there are places where solar evaporation is the most suitable method with minor impacts to DLE alternatives with brine reinjection. Very important in this context is the definition of clear rules for the realization of long-term environmental monitoring programs, including contingency plans in case something goes out of control. The industry needs above all transparency and certainty for its planning and investment decisions.
Hi Cristian, good comment. Just add that a DLE type technology would help solve 2 situations
1.- The low recovery of lithium in evaporation systems.
2.- The high consumption of brine, which is finally a water resource seen from the point of view of the basin, and which puts at risk the sustainability of the environmentally sensitive ecosystems that exist in the salt flats.
What we do not know so far is the physical-chemical characterization of the residual brine from the DLE process, and that it should be reinjected.
In the case of Chile, if the characterization shows that this residual brine is a hazardous waste, it cannot be reinjected. Processes must be sought to clean up this solution, and we do not know how complex and feasible this process will be.
Exactly Hector, that is why the DLE must be analyzed in a comprehensive manner and accompanied by alternative plans or mitigation
About any "DLE Technology" in closed box, financing can be achieved, although the issue of lithium production is related to the concatenation of several ideas interrealcionando with the sustainability of the activity in a HOLISTIC way. Unfortunately everyone buys these magic solutions, but we are really facing challenges that are much more comprehensive, more difficult to understand and not so marketable. The integral management of the water resource and the interrealciones in the salt flats is much more comprehensive than saying that you solve it with a "DLE".
Expert adviser in the chemical and mining industry of Lithium and Iodine business
4w
Just like José, not to mention that some alternatives are almost by default disposable from the environmental point of view and other DLE should consider mitigation measures at an early stage.
We already know that the challenge is that for any DLE reinjection is considered "discarded" as if it were oil and gas or something simple. In that sense it is the one that must be worked adding and revalidadno the advantages and optimization of the pools also.
Unfortunately, the pools have been demonized so much, that today to say it almost gives you shame and sacrifices you in the public square.
Directora HGA/Hidrogeología/Minería de Litio/Salares/Medioambiente/Comunidades
1mo
DLE has not yet been tested in any salt flat, and the effects of infiltration could well alter the salt ecosystem given its fragility. All the chips thrown in this technology, which personally brings me many doubts still. It will also depend on each salt flat
In my opinion, DLE technology provides a good opportunity to take a step forward in the industry. The pressure to tap into those resources has a short-term window.
But in line with what you raise, it is important that in the studies of PFS and FS this topic has the relevance that corresponds. At an early stage, more favorable DLEs can be selected than others, resources can be allocated to increase the feasibility of the project or even incorporate complementary measures that provide long-term guarantees.
I know more than one plant that are already operating but outside the Salar de Atacama, since in Chile there are 80 salt flats of which just over 60 are those that have some degree of Lithium of interest and nitrates, but today I perceive that most companies are focused on how much will be the investment v / s return and how many years they will produce Lithium. I do not see that the majority except for a few have already proven studies of the effect of DLE technology, at least on my hectares there is still none that says that it interests them because most need 10,000ha to settle to produce 10,000ton of lithium per year because it is the figure that rents them. I say it with propriety because we have 7,500ha, and that has been the response of the Companies with DLE Technology, it is as if they are not interested at all in the environmental mess that they could generate...
Christian. Totally agree. DLE's known projects and operations in China and Argentina do not reinject lithium-free brine through wells. They simply deposit it on the surface of the salt flat, with a mix between infiltration and evaporation, which would not exactly comply with the concept of net extraction close to zero.
Projects based on DLE that effectively promise to reinject poor brine, must include, within their engineering studies, numerous reinjection tests to understand the phenomena that can occur when it comes to forcing large volumes of poor brine into the aquifer, such as the effect of pressure on the subsoil or possible precipitation of salts in the well or subsoil that ends up blocking the wells early.
Exactly Jaime! Projects considering brine infiltration into the surface do in fact the same as in the traditional process: the evaporation of water. The probability of a brine reaching depths of 50 meters or more from the surface without the water evaporating is very remote. With respect to the hydrological issue, little or nothing is gained. With regard to the issue of the recovery fee as discussed by other people as well, we know that with modifications of the traditional process a recovery of lithium above 80% can be achieved. That is, recoveries can be achieved in the same order of DLE methods. The shortest time to first production and a reduction in the area required for the installation of evaporation ponds are therefore in favour of the DLE. On the other hand, DLE often needs more energy and fresh water, very scarce resources in the salt flats. Because DLE usually misses the opportunity to produce additional valuable products such as potassium, magnesium and boron salts, the million-dollar question is which of the alternatives is the most sustainable.
I agree Cristian, thank you for the debate.
In the current scenario with more ambitious extraction plans, in which there is a risk of drying up surface waters, the re-injection of depleted brine of the DLE in the subsoil is the greatest possible mitigation action in order to ensure the production plans of Lithium salts currently in portfolio. Not only to mitigate the landscape effects and the significant volumes of waste salts, but also and above all, to conserve groundwater, avoiding excessive decreases with the consequent drying of lakes, lagoons and meadows.
It is imperative to evaluate possible adverse effects of the re-injection of depleted brine in the subsoil, in order to properly regulate this activity in our region.
The benefits of DLE technologies will be noticeable if the reinjection of the large volumes of spent brine generated, both in productive and socio-environmental terms, is achieved.
We work with DLE using solvent extraction and the challenges are to minimize the drag of organic in the return brine and how to obtain the water necessary for the operation, both already have some results and on how to reinject it is key that the ionic balance allows mixing of brines and these are also entered into the water balance because otherwise, This doesn't make sense
