Latest news with #extraction
Sustainability Times
11 hours ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'China Achieves Unthinkable Feat': This Bold Extraction of 99.9% Ultra-Pure Rubidium from Salt Lake Brine Stuns the World
IN A NUTSHELL 🔬 Chinese scientists have developed a method to extract 99.9% pure rubidium chloride from low-grade brine, marking a significant breakthrough. from low-grade brine, marking a significant breakthrough. 🇨🇳 This achievement reduces China's reliance on foreign imports, particularly from Canada, strengthening its strategic mineral supply chain . . 💡 The new process involves innovative techniques like ore washing , rubidium leaching, and solvent extraction, offering substantial cost savings. , rubidium leaching, and solvent extraction, offering substantial cost savings. 🌍 China's advancement in rubidium extraction underscores its commitment to technological innovation and industrial resilience amid global competition. In a groundbreaking development, Chinese scientists have unveiled a novel method for extracting ultra-pure rubidium chloride from brine containing trace amounts of the metal. This achievement is a significant milestone for China's critical minerals supply, potentially reducing the country's dependency on foreign imports. As the world's largest consumer of rubidium, China has been reliant on countries like Canada for the majority of its imports. The breakthrough, reported by the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, showcases China's growing expertise in strategic mineral extraction, promising a more self-sufficient future in high-tech and defense applications. The Significance of 99.9% Pure Rubidium The Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes (ISL), a division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced this remarkable achievement. Researchers succeeded in producing rubidium chloride with an astounding 99.9% purity from potassium chloride material, which contained a mere 0.001% rubidium. Previously, this ultra-low concentration was deemed commercially unviable, but the new process has changed that perception entirely. Rubidium is a soft alkali metal with critical applications across multiple sectors. It plays a vital role in high-tech fields, including atomic clocks, perovskite solar cells, aerospace systems, and specialized glass. The importance of rubidium is underscored by its use in ultra-precise atomic clocks, which lose less than one second over 3.7 million years. Additionally, its applications extend to medical research, particularly in imaging tumor cells. Despite holding some of the world's largest rubidium reserves, China has faced challenges in domestic development, primarily because over 97% of its rubidium is locked in low-grade hard rock deposits that are difficult and costly to process. Only a small fraction of rubidium is found in more accessible forms, such as salt lake brine, predominantly in Qinghai province and Tibet. This breakthrough could mark a turning point in China's rubidium industry. 'Biggest Wind Turbine Ever': China Smashes All Records With This Colossal Machine—But a Hidden Flaw Threatens the Whole Project A First for China: Reducing Dependency In 2021, China imported over 19,500 tons of rubidium concentrate, with a dependency rate of 66.3% on external sources like Canada and Zimbabwe. The addition of rubidium to the United States' critical minerals list in 2022 heightened the geopolitical stakes surrounding mineral access. He Xinyu, in China Mining Magazine, emphasized the need for China to bolster resource security through technological innovation and diplomatic engagement. The ISL's electrochemical separation group addressed the scientific and engineering challenges of rubidium extraction. They developed a high-fidelity model to trace rubidium's distribution during potassium salt processing, identifying the reasons for rubidium's resistance to enrichment. This model not only optimizes rubidium concentration but also has potential applications in resource mapping and separation techniques. The integrated process devised by ISL encompasses ore washing, rubidium leaching, enrichment, solvent extraction, and purification. This system has been successfully tested using potassium chloride from Qinghai's Qarhan Salt Lake, one of China's largest inland salt lakes, consistently yielding 99.9% pure rubidium chloride from low-grade feedstock, which was previously considered unusable. 'China Leaves West in the Dust': Its Small Nuclear Reactor Leap Puts Beijing Years Ahead in the Future of Clean Energy Impact on Costs and Industrial Resilience Beyond its technological significance, this innovative process could result in substantial cost savings. A 2022 cost analysis by ISL scientist Gao Dandan's team found that rubidium chloride produced through this method could be manufactured at just one-third of its current market price. This economic advantage could strengthen China's industrial resilience amid growing global competition for strategic minerals. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, CAS, and Qinghai provincial authorities, this development signifies a crucial step in China's pursuit of self-reliance in strategic mineral resources. By enhancing its capacity to produce rubidium internally, China is better positioned to withstand external pressures and maintain its lead in high-tech sectors. This breakthrough not only underlines China's commitment to technological advancement but also its determination to secure essential resources. As the global demand for strategic minerals intensifies, China's innovative approach could set a precedent for other nations seeking to bolster their mineral independence. China's Massive Nuclear Laser Project Exposed by U.S. Satellite—This Shocking Military Development Could Tip the Balance of Power The Future of Strategic Mineral Extraction The success of China's new rubidium extraction method is a testament to the country's growing capabilities in strategic minerals. As technological advancements continue to unfold, the implications for global mineral supply chains are profound. China's achievement could inspire similar innovations in other countries, potentially reshaping the landscape of mineral extraction worldwide. The Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes' approach to overcoming challenges in rubidium extraction reflects a broader trend of leveraging scientific research to enhance resource security. By reducing dependency on foreign sources, China is strengthening its position in the high-tech and defense sectors, ensuring a more stable and sustainable future for its industries. As the world grapples with the complexities of mineral supply chains, China's breakthrough prompts an open-ended question: How will other nations respond to the increasing need for strategic mineral self-reliance in the face of evolving global dynamics? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (23)
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Rare metals war: China extracts critical mineral rubidium from brine for first time
Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the commercial extraction of the critical metal rubidium directly from salt lake brine, potentially slashing dependence on imports – mostly from Canada – that now supply two-thirds of China's needs. This industrial-scale method produces ultra-pure rubidium chloride from ultra-low concentrations, offering a new domestic source for this strategically vital material. The Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes (ISL) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Wednesday that researchers had produced 99.9 per cent pure rubidium chloride from potassium chloride material containing just 0.001 per cent rubidium. Rubidium, a strategically vital metal for emerging industries, is widely used in the electronics, specialty glass and aerospace sectors. The metal has extensive military, technological and civilian applications. For example, rubidium ions can help improve the performance of perovskite solar cells, while ultra-precise rubidium atomic clocks lose less than one second every 3.7 million years. Rubidium chloride is used in tumour cell imaging for medical research. China faces substantial challenges in rubidium resource development, including low ore grades, difficult extraction conditions and reliance on imports.
National Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Volt Lithium to Commission Mobile Direct Lithium Extraction Unit in North Dakota's Bakken Region
Article content Article content Article content CALGARY, Alberta — Volt Lithium Corp. (TSXV: VLT | OTCQB: VLTLF | FSE: I2D) (' Volt ' or the ' Company '), soon to become LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners Inc., pending shareholder approval, announces the upcoming final assembly and deployment of its proprietary mobile Direct Lithium Extraction ('DLE') unit in North Dakota's Bakken region, with commissioning scheduled for the second half of June 2025. This initiative, in collaboration with Wellspring Hydro ('Wellspring'), is supported by a combined US$2.5 million in funding facilitated through the North Dakota Industrial Commission's Clean Sustainable Energy Authority and Renewable Energy Program. Article content ' Wellspring and the State of North Dakota are excited to commence field operations with Volt in North Dakota in the second half of June,' commented Mark Watson, President and CEO of Wellspring. ' Volt is the only DLE company that the State Of North Dakota has funded to date ', added Mr. Watson. 'Based upon the successful lithium extraction results at Volt's R&D Facility in Calgary, both groups have full confidence Volt's proprietary lithium extraction unit will be successful in the field.' Article content The upcoming name change to LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners Inc., reflects the Company's ongoing strategy to partner with key oilfield infrastructure players in the US to extract lithium, a valuable critical mineral, from the significant streams of produced water associated with oil and gas production. Article content Key Highlights: Article content Proprietary Technology and Process adapts to multiple brine chemistries, driving Volt's Expansion to the Bakken in North Dakota Strategically positioned in North America's two largest oil-producing basins (Permian and Bakken). Permian potential: up to 170,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) annually. Bakken potential: up to 50,000 tonnes of LCE annually, nearly 3x higher lithium concentration compared to the Permian. Building active inventory of lithium chloride and converting to high-purity lithium carbonate for potential off takers. Deployed, scaled and optimized North America's largest operational DLE system (10,000+ barrels/day) within six months of initial deployment. Article content in North Dakota Article content Volt's proprietary operating system has been built to partner with existing salt-water disposal ('SWD') operators in oilfields across the US and the Company's proprietary extraction compound (the 'Media') is tailored to extract lithium from oilfield brines. This partnership model reduces capital and operating costs compared to developing a traditional greenfield lithium extraction facility. By integrating our DLE units with existing infrastructure, Volt accelerates its path to production and enhances project economics in several key ways: Article content Capital Savings: We eliminate the need for costly and time-intensive greenfield development, including drilling new wells, extensive land acquisition, and building new pipeline networks. Our units tie directly into the partner's SWD facilities; and Operating Savings: We tap into a continuous stream of lithium-rich brine that is already being brought to the surface as part of daily oilfield operations. Article content The combination of Volt's proprietary operating system and Media has facilitated the Company's significant growth from lab scale production in 2024 at its Research and Development Facility ('R&D Facility') in Calgary, Alberta to its field operating system in the Permian Basin capable of processing 10,000 barrels of brine per day in 2025. Article content With the Bakken field unit, Volt aims to demonstrate that its proprietary, modular DLE process can capture value across both high‑volume, lower‑grade brines and higher‑concentration resources—showcasing basin‑agnostic versatility and the potential for improved project economics in multiple North American basins. Article content Strategic Significance: North American Lithium Leadership Article content Volt Lithium now holds strategic footholds in North America's two most prolific onshore oil-producing basins—the Permian in Texas and New Mexico, and the Bakken in North Dakota. Together, these basins represent over 60% of total U.S. onshore oil output, providing significant opportunities for lithium extraction from extensive lithium-rich produced water volumes. Article content The Permian Basin alone generates approximately 19 million barrels per day of produced water at lithium concentrations averaging around 30 ppm, translating to a conservative 170,000 tonnes per annum ('tpa') of potential LCE. Article content The Williston Basin Bakken production ranges from 1.6 million to 2 million barrels of produced water per day. Internal lab tests on Bakken brine samples show lithium concentrations reaching 90 ppm —nearly three times Permian grades, suggesting potential production of ~50 000 tpa LCE. Article content Commercial Readiness and Market Engagement Article content Volt is building an inventory of lithium chloride from its Permian Basin operations and has initiated converting this inventory into lithium carbonate, achieving purity levels suitable for premium-specification offtake agreements. Samples are being distributed to potential offtake partners to facilitate commercial partnerships and validate product specifications. Article content Operational Milestones & Scalability Article content In September 2024, Volt deployed its first DLE field unit in the Permian Basin, subsequently scaling up to its Generation 5 unit by February 2025. This rapid scaling resulted in North America's largest operational DLE system, capable of processing over 10,000 barrels per day of produced water. Article content The upcoming Bakken mobile deployment represents further lateral expansion, validating the modular technology's adaptability across basins and showcasing its potential for rapid replication and scaling. Article content North Dakota Unit Field Deployment, High-Level Stakeholder & Government Engagement Article content Volt is in the final stages of assembling its mobile Field Unit for deployment and commissioning in North Dakota in the second half of June 2025. Volt's field trial will be processing brine from the Bakken formation. The Bakken represents the second largest producer of brine in the continental USA, processing up to 2 million barrels of brine per day at lithium concentrations up to 90 ppm. While conducting the field trial, Volt and Wellspring Hydro look forward to hosting representatives from the following key stakeholder groups: Article content These stakeholders, along with interested investors, will participate in site visits during both commissioning and operational phases, gaining firsthand insights into the technology's scalability and strategic impact. Article content 'Volt's modular, rapidly deployable DLE technology is gaining strong interest from industry partners. Volt's deployment of a second unit into the Bakken demonstrates the technology is capable of adapting to multiple types of oilfields and varying grades of lithium concentrations, positioning the Company to meet growing market demand and expand across key American basins.' Article content — Alex Wylie, President & CEO of Volt Lithium About Volt Lithium Volt is a lithium development and technology company aiming to be one of North America's first commercial producers of lithium carbonates from oilfield brine. Our strategy is to generate value for shareholders by leveraging management's hydrocarbon experience to deploy our proprietary DLE technology directly into existing oil and gas infrastructure, thereby reducing capital costs, lowering risks and supporting the world's clean energy transition. With four differentiating pillars, and a proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (' DLE ') technology and process, Volt's innovative approach to development is focused on generating the highest lithium recoveries with lowest costs, positioning us for future commercialization. We are committed to operating efficiently and with transparency across all areas of the business staying sharply focused on creating long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Investors and/or other interested parties may sign up for updates about the Company's continued progress on its website: Article content Contact Information Article content Forward Looking Statements Article content This news release includes certain 'forward-looking statements' 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', 'would', 'could', 'schedule' and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. Statements, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information and include, without limitation, information with respect to the terms of the operational milestone, Volume Scale-up. Extraction Time Improvements and Continuous Processing vs Batch Processing, the deployment of the Field Unit in the Permian Basin, the production of battery grade lithium by the Field Unit, and the commercial production of lithium from oilfield brine. With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has made numerous assumptions. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and may prove to be incorrect. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein including those known risk factors outlined in the Company's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2024 and (final) short form base shelf prospectus dated July 20, 2023. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Article content Article content Article content Article content
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A bright yellow minibus, a force 9 gale in the Baltic and a gang of heavies with Kalashnikovs: how MI6 extracted a KGB colonel and double agent from under the Russians' noses - with his wife, son and senile mother-in-law in tow
Even with decades of experience between them, the two middle-aged spies were on edge. They were about to attempt something that had never been done before in the history of MI6. Instead of smuggling out one Russian spy to a new life in Britain – the more usual scenario – they were going to extract an entire family.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
E3 Lithium Provides Progress Update for the Demonstration Facility
CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 2, 2025-- E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), 'E3', 'E3 Lithium' or the 'Company,' a leader in Canadian lithium, is pleased to provide a progress update on its Demonstration Facility ('Demo Facility'). The Demo Facility is planned to be brought on stream in three phases through the second half of 2025 and into 2026. The lithium extraction equipment comprising of the 30-column Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) system (the '30-Column System'), as well as the purification and concentration equipment is now fully fabricated and undergoing final checks. The heart of the lithium production equipment is comprised of five separate skids, each containing a specific operation: Skids one and two host the 30-columns and the value control for the DLE system, skids 3 and 4 host the filtration and purification equipment and skid 5 houses the control center. The skids are expected to arrive and be assembled on site in the Clearwater Project area over the next six to eight weeks. E3 Lithium has also received the sorbent for the DLE columns and completed the majority of the payments for this equipment. Following arrival on site, the equipment will be assembled and undergo operational and safety checks, followed by final leak checks. Phase 1 will use brine hosted on site for the commissioning and operation of the 30-column system equipment to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. It is expected that shortly after the drilling of the wells in Phase 2, the production well will be tied directly into the 30-column equipment and operate using a 'live' brine feed. Operation of a fully integrated system will enable E3 Lithium to optimize the process for factors such as recovery and flow rates and will provide important data for use in the design and costing of the commercial facility. The lithium carbonate produced will be used for customer interrogation and to potentially begin pre-qualification. Each phase of the Demo Facility is an important step towards validating the process technology and E3 Lithium's ability to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from Leduc Brines at scale. The key objective of the Demo Facility is to de-risk the project design for E3 Lithium's full commercial scale Clearwater Project as the Company progresses towards completion of the Feasibility Study and securing of project financing. 'The team is very excited to see the equipment arrive on site,' commented E3 Lithium's CEO, Chris Doornbos. 'The Demo Facility will be one of the few systems of this kind globally to operate at this scale. It is a significant achievement for E3 Lithium to turn this design into a reality, and a major step forward to see it operate in the very near future.' Preparation for Phase 3 will increase as the first phase begins field operations and is expected to be installed in early 2026. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Doornbos, President & CEO E3 Lithium Ltd. About E3 Lithium E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 16.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated 1 as well as 0.9 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources 2 in Alberta and 2.5 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources 3 in Saskatchewan. The Clearwater Pre-Feasibility Study outlined a 1.13 Mt LCE proven and probable mineral reserve with a pre-tax NPV8% of USD 5.2 Billion with a 29.2% IRR and an after-tax NPV8% of USD 3.7 Billion with a 24.6% IRR 1. 1: The Clearwater Project NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study, effective June 20, 2024, is available on the E3 Lithium's website ( ) and SEDAR+ ( ). 2: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the North Rocky Property, effective October 27, 2017, identified 0.9 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium's website ( ) and SEDAR+ ( ). 3: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Estevan Lithium District, effective May 23, 2024, identified 2.5 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium's website ( ) and SEDAR+ ( ). Unless otherwise indicated, Kevin Carroll, P. Eng., Chief Development Officer and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained on this news release. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as 'believe', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'intend', 'project', 'potential', 'possible' and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions, expectations, estimates and assumptions of management in light of its experience, perception of historical trends, and results of the PFS, but such statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to: the estimated mineral resources and mineral resources at the Clearwater Project; expectations regarding the PFS, including statements regarding the results of the PFS and interpretations thereof; expectations concerning the Clearwater Project, including extraction, production, pretreatment, purification, volume reduction and conversion process and features and the expected outcomes thereof; the expected economic performance of the Clearwater Project, including capital costs, operating costs, water usage, land use and carbon emissions; statements regarding the Company's strategy for minimizing environmental impact and liquid waste and maximizing water reuse, with no planned tailings or waste piles; the potential for a secondary revenue stream should the Company be able to sell the calcium carbonate generated during the production of lithium hydroxide; plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and the Clearwater Project; and the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations. In preparing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies will be consistent with the Company's expectations; that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Clearwater Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for lithium will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned activities on the Clearwater Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of lithium. All forward-looking information (including future-orientated financial information) is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the Company's brine, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of lithium and other metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; the Company's lack of operating revenues; currency fluctuations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. View source version on CONTACT: E3 Lithium - Investor Relations Alexis de la Renaudiere Investor Relations [email protected] 587-324-2775E3 Lithium - Media Inquiries Kati Dolyniuk External Relations [email protected] 587-324-2775 KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NATURAL RESOURCES OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES MINING/MINERALS SOURCE: E3 Lithium Ltd. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/02/2025 03:15 AM/DISC: 06/02/2025 03:13 AM
