Smackover Lithium Successfully Completes Derisking of DLE Technology With Final Field-Test at South West Arkansas Project
Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, has successfully completed the final Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) derisking step for their South West Arkansas (SWA) project. The three-month field-pilot test exceeded key performance criteria, with:
- Over 99% lithium recovery from brine (exceeding 95% design criteria)
- Processing of 100,170 gallons of brine from the IPC-1 well
- Completion of 497 DLE cycles
- Production of 970 gallons of concentrated lithium chloride solution
The DLE product has been sent to three vendors for conversion to battery-quality lithium carbonate, expected to yield approximately 27 kg by May 2025. This testing complements the company's existing Demonstration Plant in El Dorado, Arkansas, which has processed over 28 million gallons of brine since 2020.
Smackover Lithium, una joint venture tra Standard Lithium ed Equinor, ha completato con successo l'ultimo passo di derisking per l'estrazione diretta di litio (DLE) nel loro progetto del Sud-Ovest dell'Arkansas (SWA). Il test pilota sul campo di tre mesi ha superato i criteri di prestazione chiave, con:
- Oltre il 99% di recupero di litio dalla salamoia (superando il criterio di progettazione del 95%)
- Elaborazione di 100.170 galloni di salamoia dal pozzo IPC-1
- Completamento di 497 cicli DLE
- Produzione di 970 galloni di soluzione concentrata di cloruro di litio
Il prodotto DLE è stato inviato a tre fornitori per la conversione in carbonato di litio di qualità per batterie, che dovrebbe generare circa 27 kg entro maggio 2025. Questo test completa l'impianto dimostrativo esistente dell'azienda a El Dorado, Arkansas, che ha elaborato oltre 28 milioni di galloni di salamoia dal 2020.
Smackover Lithium, una empresa conjunta entre Standard Lithium y Equinor, ha completado con éxito el último paso de minimización de riesgos para la Extracción Directa de Litio (DLE) en su proyecto del Suroeste de Arkansas (SWA). La prueba piloto de campo de tres meses superó los criterios clave de rendimiento, con:
- Más del 99% de recuperación de litio de la salmuera (superando el criterio de diseño del 95%)
- Procesamiento de 100,170 galones de salmuera del pozo IPC-1
- Finalización de 497 ciclos de DLE
- Producción de 970 galones de solución concentrada de cloruro de litio
El producto DLE ha sido enviado a tres proveedores para su conversión en carbonato de litio de calidad para baterías, que se espera produzca aproximadamente 27 kg para mayo de 2025. Esta prueba complementa la planta de demostración existente de la empresa en El Dorado, Arkansas, que ha procesado más de 28 millones de galones de salmuera desde 2020.
스맥오버 리튬은 스탠다드 리튬과 에퀴노르의 합작 투자로, 남서부 아칸소(SWA) 프로젝트의 직접 리튬 추출(DLE) 최종 위험 감소 단계를 성공적으로 완료했습니다. 3개월 간의 현장 파일럿 테스트는 주요 성능 기준을 초과 달성하였으며, 다음과 같은 결과를 보였습니다:
- 염수에서 99% 이상의 리튬 회수(설계 기준 95% 초과)
- IPC-1 우물에서 100,170 갤런의 염수 처리
- 497 DLE 사이클 완료
- 970 갤런의 농축 리튬 클로라이드 용액 생산
DLE 제품은 배터리 품질의 리튬 탄산염으로 전환하기 위해 세 개의 공급업체에 발송되었으며, 2025년 5월까지 약 27kg을 생산할 것으로 예상됩니다. 이 테스트는 2020년 이후 2800만 갤런 이상의 염수를 처리한 엘도라도 아칸소에 있는 회사의 기존 시연 플랜트를 보완합니다.
Smackover Lithium, une coentreprise entre Standard Lithium et Equinor, a réussi à achever la dernière étape de réduction des risques de l'Extraction Directe de Lithium (DLE) pour leur projet du Sud-Ouest de l'Arkansas (SWA). Le test pilote sur le terrain de trois mois a dépassé les critères de performance clés, avec :
- Plus de 99 % de récupération de lithium à partir de saumure (dépassant le critère de conception de 95 %)
- Traitement de 100 170 gallons de saumure provenant du puits IPC-1
- Achèvement de 497 cycles DLE
- Production de 970 gallons de solution concentrée de chlorure de lithium
Le produit DLE a été envoyé à trois fournisseurs pour conversion en carbonate de lithium de qualité batterie, dont on s'attend à ce qu'il produise environ 27 kg d'ici mai 2025. Ce test complète l'usine de démonstration existante de l'entreprise à El Dorado, Arkansas, qui a traité plus de 28 millions de gallons de saumure depuis 2020.
Smackover Lithium, ein Joint Venture zwischen Standard Lithium und Equinor, hat erfolgreich den letzten Schritt zur Risikominderung der direkten Lithiumextraktion (DLE) für ihr Projekt im Südwesten von Arkansas (SWA) abgeschlossen. Der dreimonatige Feldpilotversuch übertraf die wichtigsten Leistungsanforderungen mit:
- Über 99% Lithiumrückgewinnung aus Sole (übersteigt das Designkriterium von 95%)
- Verarbeitung von 100.170 Gallonen Sole aus dem IPC-1-Brunnen
- Abschluss von 497 DLE-Zyklen
- Produktion von 970 Gallonen konzentrierter Lithiumchloridlösung
Das DLE-Produkt wurde an drei Anbieter zur Umwandlung in lithiumcarbonat in Batteriewqualität gesendet, von dem erwartet wird, dass es bis Mai 2025 etwa 27 kg liefert. Diese Tests ergänzen die bestehende Demonstrationsanlage des Unternehmens in El Dorado, Arkansas, die seit 2020 über 28 Millionen Gallonen Sole verarbeitet hat.
- 99% lithium recovery rate exceeds 95% design criteria
- Successful completion of final technical milestone for SWA project commercialization
- Production of 970 gallons of concentrated lithium chloride solution for conversion testing
- Extensive operational validation with over 28M gallons processed at demonstration plant
- Commercial production yet to begin
- Still pending completion of FEED work and feasibility study
- Final battery-quality lithium carbonate production results not yet available
Insights
The successful completion of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) derisking represents a significant technical achievement for Smackover Lithium's South West Arkansas project. The field-pilot results demonstrate exceptional performance, with lithium recovery exceeding
This milestone builds on an impressive operational history, having processed over 28 million gallons of brine at their demonstration plant since 2020. The latest field-pilot processed additional 100,170 gallons through nearly 500 DLE cycles, producing approximately 970 gallons of concentrated lithium chloride solution.
Strategically, the company is advancing toward commercialization along two critical paths: technology validation and customer development. Sending samples to three potential equipment vendors serves dual purposes - testing the conversion process to battery-quality lithium carbonate while identifying manufacturing partners. The resulting materials will support qualification with potential off-take partners, addressing the important customer acquisition phase.
The technical performance demonstrates that Smackover has overcome one of the primary hurdles facing DLE technologies - proving reliable operation with actual geologic brines rather than just laboratory solutions. With the derisking milestone complete, the project can now advance to FEED (Front End Engineering Design) and feasibility study completion, representing the final pre-construction engineering phases.
Field-Pilot DLE Facility Exceeds Key Performance Criteria to Confirm Engineering Design for South West Arkansas Project
Large Volumes of DLE Product Sent to Third Party Vendors for Conversion to Battery-Quality Lithium Carbonate – These Samples Will Be Used in the Qualification Process With Potential Off-Take Partners
LEWISVILLE, Ark., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, has achieved one of the last technical milestones in the development of the South West Arkansas (“SWA”) project located in Lafayette and Columbia Counties, Arkansas. The JV, in partnership with Koch Technology Solutions (“KTS”), successfully completed the final Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) derisking step for the SWA project, a critical step toward commercialization. Over a three-month period, the JV and its partners operated an onsite DLE field-pilot plant, where it surpassed key performance criteria (more details provided below). Additionally, large-volume samples of the concentrated and purified DLE product have been sent to third-party vendors. These vendors will convert the DLE product into battery-quality lithium carbonate while also being assessed as potential equipment suppliers for the commercial project. The resulting samples will play a key role in the qualification process with prospective off-take partners.
Highlights of this final derisking pilot include:
- Lithium recovery far exceeded the design criteria. During sustained operation, the DLE field-pilot plant recovered over
99% of the lithium from brine sourced from the SWA project’s International Paper Company (“IPC-1”) well, far exceeding the95% recovery used in the current design (average lithium content of the incoming brine was 427 mg/L); - Rejections for key contaminants were within acceptable tolerance of (i.e. just above or below) the design criteria;
- The field-pilot plant processed over 2,385 barrels (100,170 gallons) of brine from the IPC-1 well;
- Field-pilot plant completed over 497 DLE cycles;
- These recent data from the field-pilot plant testing supplement the 28,367,185 gallons of brine processed, and the 11,206 cycles of DLE completed at Standard Lithium’s Demonstration Plant in El Dorado, Arkansas, operating since 2020;
- The heart of the plant is the same KTS Li-ProTM Lithium Selective Sorption (Li-Pro LSS) technology, as described in the Company’s recent news release (28 October 2024);
- The field-pilot plant has produced approximately 970 gallons (3,672 litres) of concentrated and purified lithium chloride solution (
6% LiCl solution); - The 970 gallons of
6% LiCl solution is currently being sent off-site to three separate potential carbonate equipment vendors; and, - The three vendors are expected to produce, in total, approximately 27 kg of battery-quality lithium carbonate, anticipated in May 2025.
Standard Lithium’s President and COO, Dr. Andy Robinson commented “This field-pilot is the final step in derisking DLE technology for Smackover brines; we’re now ready to commercialize this technology. For 5 years, Standard Lithium has been operating a large-scale Demonstration Plant in Arkansas, and we’ve processed over 28 million gallons of real, live Smackover brine. This large Demonstration Plant has been invaluable in developing, streamlining and optimising the flowsheet. The field-pilot was the final step to demonstrate that we can reliably process brine from our SWA project, extract lithium in real-time, and convert to a battery-quality lithium carbonate product. Smackover Lithium has now completed the necessary testing of the flowsheet, and can complete the FEED work and feasibility study.”
Figure 1 – Standard Lithium operators checking performance of the DLE field pilot. The larger blue and white enclosure houses the pre-treatment, filtration and DLE (LSS column) process steps.
Figure 2 – Standard Lithium operators monitoring performance of the filtration process step.
Qualified Person
Marek Dworzanowski, EUR ING, CEng, HonFSAIMM, FIMMM, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and a Consulting Metallurgical Engineer who is independent of the Company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release.
About Smackover Lithium
Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. Formed in May 2024, Smackover Lithium is developing two Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) Project Companies in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Standard Lithium owns
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “S5L”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present in around 30 countries worldwide. Our partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on our broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.
For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US - Equinor
About Koch Technology Solutions (KTS)
Koch Technology Solutions is the technology licensing business of Koch Engineered Solutions (KES). KTS creates value for its customers across a growing portfolio of technologies including direct lithium extraction, the polyester value chain, and 1,4-Butananediol plus its derivates. KTS combines its exclusive technologies, expertise, and capabilities with those of other KES companies to provide overall solutions to optimize customer’s capital investments and existing manufacturing assets.
Investor and Media Contacts:
Chris Lang
Standard Lithium Ltd.
investors@standardithium.com
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, continued operation of the demonstration plant and the field-pilot DLE plant, outcomes of commercialization, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued production of lithium chloride solutions, consistent ongoing lithium recovery quantities, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:
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FAQ
What recovery rate did SLI achieve in their latest DLE field-pilot test?
How much lithium carbonate is expected to be produced from SLI's latest pilot test samples?
How many gallons of brine has SLI's Demonstration Plant processed since 2020?
What is the next step for SLI's South West Arkansas project after completing the DLE field test?
