ILiAD Technologies Unveils DLE Pilot Program at Rio Tinto
ILiAD Technologies has taken a significant step in the lithium extraction landscape by launching an advanced pilot program at Rio Tinto's Sal de Vida facility located in Catamarca, Argentina. This initiative is a demonstration of ILiAD’s state-of-the-art Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, a move aimed at revolutionizing traditional lithium extraction methods.
Samuel Moore, the CEO of ILiAD Technologies, expressed enthusiasm about this field demonstration, emphasizing its potential to showcase the efficiency and performance of their proprietary technology, including the recent enhancements known as ILiAD+. He described the pilot as crucial for evaluating scalability and long-term performance while working with Rio Tinto's brines. The collaboration marks a pivotal moment highlighting how ILiAD’s technology can fit into real-world operational conditions.
The deployment of this pilot is particularly noteworthy, as it builds upon the strategic partnership established in 2023 when Rio Tinto, then partnered with Livent, decided to invest in ILiAD Technologies. The collaboration highlights the growing need for effective DLE technologies to meet the increasing lithium demand, especially for applications in electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.
Barbara Fochtman, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Lithium, also commented on the partnership, noting Rio Tinto's extensive experience in commercial DLE operations that spans over 30 years. This expertise provides them with the ability to assess new technologies and effectively integrate them into proven processes. Fochtman underscored the importance of this melding of new and established approaches to enhance sustainability and efficiency in lithium production, thereby fulfilling customer needs.
ILiAD Technologies boasts an impressive capability across various brine types globally, offering industry-leading impurity rejection rates alongside high recovery efficiency and reduced water usage. This positions ILiAD as a key player in providing sustainable solutions designed to meet the surging demand for lithium worldwide, particularly in light of a growing electric vehicle sector.
ILiAD Technologies, affiliated with EnergySource Minerals, operates with the ILiAD Technology Platform, a proprietary innovation that combines a cutting-edge lithium selective adsorbent with continuous countercurrent bed processing. This unique technology is poised to ensure effective lithium production suited for the highest international standards, ready to cater to the expanding market needs driven by electric vehicle battery manufacturing.
In summary, the launch of this pilot project is not just a testament to ILiAD Technologies' commitment to innovation in lithium extraction but also signifies a crucial collaboration with Rio Tinto that aims to address global energy and transportation demands in a sustainable manner.
As the electric vehicle market surges, projects like these represent the necessary steps toward a more sustainable and efficient future in lithium production, with ILiAD at the forefront of this innovative endeavor.
For more details on ILiAD Technologies and its advancements in direct lithium extraction, visit
ILiAD Technologies.