Rock Tech Lithium receives funding for lithium refinement project

According to the announcement, Europe’s leading raw materials network has thus recognised the innovative strength of the German-Canadian company in the field of lithium processing. This is the first funding received after the converter project in Guben was recognised by the European Commission as a ‘Strategic Project’ under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The local Brandenburg government officially approved the project in early 2024.

As part of the KAVA funding conditions, Rock Tech Guben GmbH is now working together with international partners such as the National Technical University of Athens, VITO (Belgium) and Admiris (Greece). The aim is to improve the efficiency of lithium extraction from spodumene and to further develop the production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). Rock Tech sees considerable potential for future cost and operational advantages at the Guben site.

A project named OLiVer (Hard Rock Lithium Extraction and Purified Value Products for Energy Applications) was now launched to achieve the above goal, focusing on four core targets: Firstly, the optimisation of pyro-hydro-metallurgical processes for more efficient lithium extraction from spodumene will be explored. Secondly, the development of a novel secondary process for improved recovery of lithium sulphate is also planned. The researchers also plan to analyse the integration of primary and secondary lithium sulphate streams to increase the overall production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM).

Finally, all of the above processes are then to be established in a pilot operation for the validation of economic feasibility.

“We are delighted to have been selected for the KAVA grant and to have the opportunity to work with our partners to bring innovative and potentially game-changing lithium processing technologies to market,” said Mirco Wojnarowicz, Rock Tech’s CEO.

Source: Info via email