Standard Lithium Initiates Arkansas Carbon Capture Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Standard Lithium Ltd. (SLI) is launching a pilot project in southern Arkansas to test innovative carbon capture technology in collaboration with Aqualung Carbon Capture AS. The project aims to minimize CO₂ emissions from lithium production processes and optimize production costs. This initiative aligns with the U.S. government's goals for sustainable lithium production and reflects an alignment with the White House's recent CCUS announcement. Manufacturing of the pilot unit is set to begin in Q4 2021, with installation planned for early 2022.

Positive

• The project aims to minimize CO2 emissions, enhancing sustainability.
• Partnership with Aqualung introduces advanced carbon capture technology.
• Alignment with U.S. government initiatives promotes sustainable lithium production.

Negative

• None.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Objective to minimize CO₂ emissions from future operations and related supply-chain activities
• Regionally sourced CO₂ may be utilized to optimize the flowsheet, reduce reagent costs, as well as potential sequestration
• Aligns with recent White House Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration announcement
• Aims to make the Gulf Coast region an industry leading producer of sustainable lithium chemicals

EL DORADO, Ark., Sept. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), an innovative technology and lithium project development company, announced that it is undertaking a pilot project in southern Arkansas to test a novel carbon capture technology. The pilot project will be undertaken in collaboration with the owner of the technology, Aqualung Carbon Capture AS (“Aqualung”), and will be installed at a natural gas processing site in southern Arkansas owned and operated by Mission Creek Resources LLC (“Mission Creek”).

Standard Lithium’s ongoing operations lead the industry in advancing sustainability and circular economy. By funding this project, Standard seeks to build on its science-based strategy for sustainable development and continuous improvement at its Arkansas lithium projects. The Company is focused on minimizing all CO₂ emissions that may result from its future operations and related supply-chain activities. The Company has identified several areas where CO₂-rich gas streams may be used to optimize its process and reduce reagent costs, as well as potentially sequester CO₂.

Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium commented, “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Aqualung and Mission Creek on this exciting project; the future of the lithium industry rests on being able to produce sustainable battery-quality chemicals with the lowest carbon footprint in jurisdictions where their production is wanted and needed. We feel that successful proof of this carbon capture technology in Southern Arkansas may demonstrate another important technological step towards making the Gulf Coast region an industry-leading producer of sustainable lithium chemicals.”

Standard Lithium’s current and planned expansion of its production of a key battery metal advances the U.S. goal to “secure an end-to-end domestic supply chain for advanced batteries”, as well as support the “sustainable domestic production and processing of critical minerals.” Today’s announced pilot project builds on and aligns with the White House’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) announcement on June 30, 2021, which seeks to develop and deploy CCUS technologies to improve industrial processes.

Aqualung, a Norwegian technology company, is the sole license owner of the patent-protected technology, which was developed by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (“NTNU”), and results from over 20 years of research at NTNU into membrane separation of gasses. The technology is based on a membrane system that selectively extracts CO₂ from a wide range of CO₂ sources emitted by hydrocarbon-burning energy sources. It produces a high purity CO₂ gas stream that can either be sequestered or reused. The technology has been successfully piloted in Europe, where it has been shown to effectively extract CO₂ from carbon gas streams.

Erik Mathiesen, CEO of Aqualung carbon capture, commented “We are very pleased to partner up with Standard Lithium and Mission Creek on this important pilot project. Aqualung seeks to take an active role in the industrial energy transition with our high-performing, low cost, light footprint all-natural process for capturing CO₂. This project will prove the unique second-generation membrane technology’s contribution within an important business area in the circular economy.”

The pilot project will be located at Mission Creek’s Dorcheat Macedonia facility and will take a slipstream of flue gas for processing through the Aqualung pilot unit. The resulting concentrated CO₂ stream will be utilized in Standard Lithium’s ongoing R&D activities to investigate the utilization of southern Arkansas sourced CO₂ for process and reagent optimization.   Manufacturing of the pilot unit is expected to begin in Q4 2021, and, pending permitting and finalizing of other agreements, to be installed at the project site in Q1/2 2022.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is an innovative technology and lithium development company. The company's flagship project is located in southern Arkansas, where it is engaged in the testing and proving of the commercial viability of lithium extraction from over 150,000 acres of permitted brine operations. The company has commissioned its first-of-a-kind industrial-scale direct lithium extraction demonstration plant at Lanxess's south plant facility in southern Arkansas. The demonstration plant utilizes the company's proprietary LiSTR technology to selectively extract lithium from Lanxess's tail brine. The demonstration plant is being used for proof-of-concept and commercial feasibility studies. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. The company is also pursuing the resource development of over 30,000 acres of separate brine leases located in southwestern Arkansas and approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino county, California.

Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture and the NYSE American Exchanges under the trading symbol “SLI”; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “S5L”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

On behalf of the Board of Standard Lithium Ltd.

Robert Mintak, CEO & Director

For further information, contact Anthony Alvaro at (604) 240 4793

Twitter @standardlithium

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-lithium/

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) 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 applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, 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. 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 affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. 

 

FAQ

What is the purpose of Standard Lithium's pilot project in Arkansas?

The pilot project aims to test carbon capture technology to reduce CO2 emissions in lithium production.

How does Standard Lithium plan to reduce costs in lithium production?

By utilizing CO2-rich gas streams for process optimization, Standard Lithium aims to lower reagent costs.

When is the pilot project's installation expected to be completed?

The installation of the pilot unit is planned for early 2022.

What technology is Standard Lithium collaborating with Aqualung on?

Standard Lithium is testing a novel carbon capture technology developed by Aqualung.

How does this project align with U.S. government initiatives?

The project supports the U.S. goal for sustainable production of critical minerals, aligning with the recent CCUS announcement.