LithiumBank Confirms up to 95% Lithium Recovery and over 99% Impurity Rejection from DLE Pilot Testing Using SLB's Integrated Lithium Production Solution Technology on Boardwalk and Park Place Brines
LithiumBank Resources (LBNKF) has announced successful Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) pilot testing results from its Boardwalk and Park Place projects in Alberta. The testing, using SLB's integrated lithium production solution, achieved up to 95% lithium recovery and over 99% impurity rejection.
The pilot campaigns processed approximately 70,000 litres of brine, with both projects demonstrating exceptional performance: Boardwalk achieved 94.5% lithium recovery and Park Place reached 95%. The projects combined host 5,195,000 tonnes LCE measured and indicated at 81.6 mg/L lithium grade (Boardwalk) and 24,474,000 tonnes LCE inferred at 80.1 mg/L lithium grade.
The commercial scale modules designed for LithiumBank can operate at ~25,000 m³/day and potentially produce ~3,500 tpa LCE based on Boardwalk grades. The DLE technology's adsorbent materials, sourced in North America, have demonstrated longevity of thousands of cycles over 6 years with potential service life exceeding 10 years.
LithiumBank Resources (LBNKF) ha annunciato i risultati positivi dei test pilota per l'estrazione diretta di litio (DLE) dai suoi progetti Boardwalk e Park Place in Alberta. I test, utilizzando la soluzione integrata di produzione di litio di SLB, hanno raggiunto fino al 95% di recupero di litio e oltre il 99% di rifiuto delle impurità.
Le campagne pilota hanno elaborato circa 70.000 litri di salamoia, con entrambi i progetti che hanno dimostrato prestazioni eccezionali: Boardwalk ha raggiunto il 94,5% di recupero di litio e Park Place ha raggiunto il 95%. I progetti combinati ospitano 5.195.000 tonnellate LCE misurate e indicate con un grado di litio di 81,6 mg/L (Boardwalk) e 24.474.000 tonnellate LCE inferite con un grado di litio di 80,1 mg/L.
I moduli su scala commerciale progettati per LithiumBank possono operare a ~25.000 m³/giorno e potenzialmente produrre ~3.500 tpa LCE basati sui gradi di Boardwalk. I materiali adsorbenti della tecnologia DLE, provenienti dal Nord America, hanno dimostrato longevità di migliaia di cicli per oltre 6 anni, con una vita utile potenziale che supera i 10 anni.
LithiumBank Resources (LBNKF) ha anunciado resultados exitosos de pruebas piloto de Extracción Directa de Litio (DLE) de sus proyectos Boardwalk y Park Place en Alberta. Las pruebas, utilizando la solución integrada de producción de litio de SLB, lograron hasta un 95% de recuperación de litio y más del 99% de rechazo de impurezas.
Las campañas piloto procesaron aproximadamente 70,000 litros de salmuera, con ambos proyectos demostrando un rendimiento excepcional: Boardwalk logró un 94.5% de recuperación de litio y Park Place alcanzó un 95%. Los proyectos combinados albergan 5,195,000 toneladas LCE medidas e indicadas con un grado de litio de 81.6 mg/L (Boardwalk) y 24,474,000 toneladas LCE inferidas con un grado de litio de 80.1 mg/L.
Los módulos a escala comercial diseñados para LithiumBank pueden operar a ~25,000 m³/día y potencialmente producir ~3,500 tpa LCE basados en los grados de Boardwalk. Los materiales adsorbentes de la tecnología DLE, obtenidos en América del Norte, han demostrado longevidad de miles de ciclos durante más de 6 años, con una vida útil potencial que supera los 10 años.
리튬뱅크 리소스 (LBNKF)는 알버타의 보드워크 및 파크 플레이스 프로젝트에서 직접 리튬 추출(DLE) 파일럿 테스트 결과가 성공적이었다고 발표했습니다. SLB의 통합 리튬 생산 솔루션을 사용한 이 테스트는 최대 95%의 리튬 회수율과 99% 이상의 불순물 거부율을 달성했습니다.
파일럿 캠페인은 약 70,000리터의 염수를 처리했으며, 두 프로젝트 모두 뛰어난 성능을 보여주었습니다: 보드워크는 94.5%의 리튬 회수율을 달성했고, 파크 플레이스는 95%에 도달했습니다. 이 프로젝트들은 5,195,000톤 LCE의 측정 및 표시된 리튬을 81.6 mg/L의 리튬 농도로 보유하고 있으며 (보드워크), 24,474,000톤 LCE의 추정 리튬을 80.1 mg/L의 리튬 농도로 보유하고 있습니다.
리튬뱅크를 위해 설계된 상업 규모 모듈은 하루 약 25,000 m³로 운영할 수 있으며, 보드워크의 등급을 기반으로 연간 약 3,500 tpa LCE를 생산할 수 있습니다. DLE 기술의 흡착재는 북미에서 조달되었으며, 6년 이상 수천 회의 사이클에서 지속성을 보여주었으며, 잠재적인 서비스 수명은 10년을 초과할 수 있습니다.
LithiumBank Resources (LBNKF) a annoncé des résultats positifs des tests pilotes d'extraction directe de lithium (DLE) de ses projets Boardwalk et Park Place en Alberta. Les tests, utilisant la solution de production de lithium intégrée de SLB, ont atteint jusqu'à 95% de récupération de lithium et plus de 99% de rejet des impuretés.
Les campagnes pilotes ont traité environ 70 000 litres de saumure, les deux projets ayant démontré des performances exceptionnelles : Boardwalk a atteint 94,5% de récupération de lithium et Park Place a atteint 95%. Les projets combinés abritent 5 195 000 tonnes LCE mesurées et indiquées avec une teneur en lithium de 81,6 mg/L (Boardwalk) et 24 474 000 tonnes LCE inférées avec une teneur en lithium de 80,1 mg/L.
Les modules à l'échelle commerciale conçus pour LithiumBank peuvent fonctionner à ~25 000 m³/jour et potentiellement produire ~3 500 tpa LCE en fonction des teneurs de Boardwalk. Les matériaux adsorbants de la technologie DLE, provenant d'Amérique du Nord, ont démontré une longévité de milliers de cycles sur 6 ans, avec une durée de vie potentielle dépassant 10 ans.
LithiumBank Resources (LBNKF) hat erfolgreiche Ergebnisse der Pilotversuche zur direkten Lithiumextraktion (DLE) aus seinen Projekten Boardwalk und Park Place in Alberta bekannt gegeben. Die Tests, die die integrierte Lithiumproduktionslösung von SLB verwendeten, erzielten bis zu 95% Lithium-Rückgewinnung und über 99% Verunreinigungsabweisung.
Die Pilotkampagnen verarbeiteten etwa 70.000 Liter Sole, wobei beide Projekte außergewöhnliche Leistungen zeigten: Boardwalk erreichte eine Lithium-Rückgewinnung von 94,5% und Park Place kam auf 95%. Die kombinierten Projekte beherbergen 5.195.000 Tonnen LCE, die gemessen und angezeigt werden mit einem Lithiumgehalt von 81,6 mg/L (Boardwalk) und 24.474.000 Tonnen LCE, die geschätzt werden mit einem Lithiumgehalt von 80,1 mg/L.
Die für LithiumBank entwickelten Module im kommerziellen Maßstab können mit ~25.000 m³/Tag betrieben werden und potenziell ~3.500 tpa LCE basierend auf den Boardwalk-Gehalten produzieren. Die Adsorptionsmaterialien der DLE-Technologie, die in Nordamerika beschafft wurden, haben sich über Tausende von Zyklen über 6 Jahre hinweg als langlebig erwiesen, mit einer potenziellen Lebensdauer von über 10 Jahren.
- Exceptional DLE pilot results with up to 95% lithium recovery
- Large resource base of 5.19M tonnes LCE M&I and 24.47M tonnes inferred
- Commercial modules capable of producing ~3,500 tpa LCE
- Long-lasting adsorbent material with 10+ year potential service life
- Over 99% impurity rejection achieved in processing
- Project still in early stages requiring additional optimization trials
- Full process recoveries may be lower than DLE unit results
- Independent verification of brine composition and density needed
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2025) - LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) ("LithiumBank'' or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from the Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") pilot campaign using SLB's integrated lithium production solution on bulk brine samples collected from the Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine projects ("Boardwalk"), ("Park Place") located in west-central Alberta. The DLE tests based on ILiAD technology as part of the SLB's well-to-product integrated lithium production solution successfully recovered up to
Highlights:
- Up to
95% lithium recovery from pilot testing of Boardwalk and Park Place brines. - Greater than
99% overall combined impurity rejection, rejecting98.80% of boron,99.97% of calcium,99.96% of magnesium,99.98% of potassium,99.98% of sodium, and99.97% of strontium (Table 2). - Boardwalk and Park Place piloting campaigns combined processed approximately 70,000 litres of brine
- Piloting results can be used to determine operating parameters for a ~25,000 cubic metres (m3) per day commercial scale DLE unit
- The DLE technology absorbent in other piloting, processing alternate brines, has been shown to last 1000s of cycles over 6 years, has been shown to be able to be reconditioned and may have a service life of over 10 years
- ILiAD adsorbent materials are sourced and manufactured in North America
"We are very pleased with the results from the Boardwalk and Park Place DLE piloting campaigns that produced an exceptionally pure lithium chloride ("LiCl") product with up to
The tested DLE technology is a drop-in lithium recovery solution that is part of SLB's well-to-product fully integrated lithium extraction flow sheet. The commercial scale modules designed for LithiumBank can operate at ~4,815 gpm (~25,000 m3/day) and can produce ~3,500 tpa LCE based on grades and reported lithium recovery from Boardwalk. This flow is a 10th of what was studied in the Company's PEA LithiumBank published in February 2024 and internal financials can be used to determine this approach has a high likelihood of success at significantly lower financial risk.
The DLE pilot testing of Park Place and Boardwalk brines was conducted at the ILiAD facility in Central City, California in November and December 2024 respectively. Each pilot test consisted of approximately 34 cubic metres ("m3") at a flow rate of approximately 360 ml/min (Table 1) with a runtime of 101.6 hours (22.9 cycles) and 111.5 hours (25 cycles) at Boardwalk and Park Place respectively. Both pilot campaigns maintained a pH between 5-6 and a temperature of approximately 60 degrees Celsius (°C).
Table 1. Boardwalk and Park Place DLE pilot test parameters
| Test Parameters | Boardwalk | Park Place |
| Lithium Recovery (%) at steady state | 94.5 | 95.0 |
| Test Time (hours) | 101.6 | 111.5 |
| Cycles | 22.9 | 25 |
| pH | 5-6 | 5-6 |
| Temperature (°C) | 60 | 60 |
| Flow Rate (mL/min) | 360 | 360 |
The piloting campaigns began with a 'tuning phase' to establish operational parameters before reaching a steady state (3 cycles on Boardwalk and 12.3 cycles on Park Place). At 'steady state' the DLE process is run continuously to achieve repeatable lithium recovery rates and maintain consistent impurity rejection. At steady state, the pilot operations achieved high lithium recovery rates of
Table 2. Impurity rejection from Boardwalk and Park Place brines.
| Boardwalk | Park Place | |
| Element | Percent Rejection | Percent Rejection |
| Boron (B) | ||
| Calcium (Ca) | ||
| Magnesium (Mg) | ||
| Manganese (Mn) | ||
| Potassium (K) | ||
| Sodium (Na) | ||
| Strontium (Sr) | ||
| Average |
The bulk brine sample from Boardwalk was collected from well 100/10-06-069-21W5/00 ("10-6") (Figure 1) during a 48 hour pump test first reported in the Company's news release dated August 8, 2024. The lithium grade from the 10-6 well was reported to be 82 mg/L (see the Company's news release dated September 23, 2024). Bulk brine from Park Place was collected from well 100/12-03-059-23W5/00 ("12-3") and reported an average grade of 77.2 mg/L lithium (see the Company's news release dated January 17, 2023) (Figure 1).
Table 3: LithiumBank' Total Lithium Resource Holdings from Boardwalk and Park Place
| Project | Resource Category | Lithium Grade (mg/L) | Tonnes LCE | LithiumBank Combined Resources (tonnes LCE) | Lithium Grade (mg/L) | Combined Category |
| Boardwalk | Measured | 81.2 | 1,671,000 | 5,195,000 | 81.6 | Measured & Indicated |
| Indicated | 81.8 | 3,524,000 | ||||
| Inferred | 79.0 | 2,777,000 | 24,474,000 | 80.1 | Inferred | |
| Park Place | Inferred | 80.2 | 21,697,000 |
*The NI 43-101 Park Place resource estimate entitled "LithiumBank Resources Corp. Park Place NI 43-101 Technical Report" effectively dated June 24, 2024, is available on SEDAR+
**The NI 43-101 Boardwalk resource estimate entitled "LithiumBank Resources Corp. Boardwalk NI 43-101 Technical Report" effectively dated February 20, 2025, is available on SEDAR+
***LithiumBank is following the same systematic development strategy at Park Place as it has with Boardwalk Note: Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
Figure 1. Map showing Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine NI 43-101 resource estimates and wells used for bulk brine sampling.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10140/248387_figure1.jpg
The lithium yield recovery was calculated using ICP-OES data and the overall lithium recovery by ICP was determined by averaging the results obtained from three different percent recovery methods:
Method 1: Lithium Recovery ICP Inputs
Recovery = Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP / Lithium Mass in Feed by ICP
Method 2: Lithium Recovery ICP Outputs
Recovery = Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP / (Lithium Mass in Depleted Brine by ICP + Measured Lithium Mass in Product by ICP)
Method 3: Lithium Recovery ICP Outputs
Recovery = 1 − (Measured Lithium Mass in Depleted by ICP / Lithium Mass in Feed Brine by ICP)
To ensure the accurate normalization of bias from instrument error and to reconcile the overall lithium mass balance during pilot tests, three methods are typically employed. Utilizing multiple methods, rather than relying on just one, helps predict a realistic recovery rate by avoiding potential overestimation of performance or underestimation due to lithium loss or gain from system errors.
Comments by the Qualified Person:
- The data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying this announcement have been verified by the QP through review and analysis of test data, and discussions with the DLE provider.
- Limitations to the verification include independent measurement of brine composition and density for recovery estimates were not obtained, where SLB and LithiumBank report slightly differing values between well samples and piloted samples, therefore third-party verification of values could add additional certainty to results.
- Based upon the testing data and other information provided, the DLE process proposed for this project appears to be sufficiently defined for this early stage of the project but is subject to changes in circumstance or understanding as the project develops.
- The ultimate recoveries of lithium are dependent on the full process, not just the DLE extraction unit and must take into account any or all potential losses from reservoir to final product outlet.
- To advance the DLE technology to the next project stage additional trials are recommended to optimize this DLE process for the Boardwalk and Park Place brines, which should include longer pilot runs to confirm the sorbent lifespan and either regeneration or replacement cycle for the brines.
The scientific and technical information relating to the Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing presented in this news release has been reviewed and consent to publicly disclose this data is provided by George Brindle, P.Eng., of GLJ Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta. George Brindle, P.Eng. is independent of LithiumBank and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
About LithiumBank Resources Corp.
LithiumBank Resources Corp., is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on advancing its two flagship projects, Boardwalk and Park Place, in Western Canada. The Company holds 1,855,915 acres of brown-field lithium brine licenses, across three (3) districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Company has pilot tested multiple mature Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technologies and is working toward establishing commercial lithium production by a modular approach.
Contact:
Rob Shewchuk
CEO & Director
rob@lithiumbank.ca
(778) 987-9767
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without limitation, the Company's expectations regarding piloting results being used to determine operating parameters, the Company's expectations regarding DLE technology, the Boardwalk and Park Place projects being highly compatible with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB can scale up and optimize the DLE process within the entire end-to-end flowsheet that produces a battery lithium grade carbonate, the Company continuing its collaboration with ILiAD/SLB team, the Company continuing advanced DLE and post-DLE test work with additional strategic groups and statements regarding the operating and production capacity of the DLE technology are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should" or "would" or occur.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that the piloting results can be used to determine operating parameters for a ~25,000 cubic metres per day commercial scale DLE unit, that the Boardwalk and Park Place projects are highly compatible with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB can scale up and optimize the DLE process within the entire end-to-end flowsheet that produces a battery lithium grated carbonate, that the Company will continue its collaboration with the ILiAD/SLB team, that the Company will continue advanced DLE and post-DLE test work with additional strategic groups and that the DLE technology will operate and produce as anticipated.
These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important risks that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, that the piloting results will not be able to be used to determine operating parameters as anticipated, that the Boardwalk and Park Place projects will not be highly compatible with the SLB integrated solution, that SLB will not scale up and optimize the DLE process as anticipated, and that the DLE technology will not operate and produce as anticipated.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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FAQ
What lithium recovery rates did LBNKF achieve in its recent DLE pilot testing?
How much lithium resource does LBNKF's Boardwalk and Park Place projects contain?
What is the projected production capacity of LBNKF's commercial DLE modules?
How long did LBNKF's DLE pilot testing run and what volume was processed?
What is the expected lifespan of LBNKF's DLE technology adsorbent materials?
