SWA Lithium Advances and Derisks DLE Technology with Field-Testing at South West Arkansas Lithium Project

Core Insights - SWA Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, has successfully designed, built, and is now operating a pilot Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) facility in Arkansas to confirm engineering designs for the South West Arkansas Project [1][2] - The pilot DLE plant is processing brine from the SWA Project to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate samples for qualification with potential off-take partners [1][2] Company Developments - The pilot DLE plant utilizes real-time brine from the IPC well, employing the same flowsheet as the planned commercial lithium facility [2] - Approximately 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of a 6% lithium chloride solution is expected to be produced, which will be sent to three vendors for conversion into battery-quality lithium carbonate [3][4] - The produced lithium carbonate will be used for initial qualification phases with potential off-take partners and to inform vendor selection for the commercial facility [3] Technology and Collaboration - The pilot plant employs KTS Li-Pro™ Lithium Selective Sorption technology, reflecting the collaboration with Koch Technology Solutions [3] - The ongoing operation of the pilot DLE plant is expected to continue until late January 2025, gathering sufficient operational experience and design data [3] Strategic Goals - The project aims to become the first new lithium-from-brine operation in North America in over 50 years, highlighting the commitment to local partnerships and community engagement [3] - The company is focused on sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production through a fully-integrated DLE and purification process [10]