Hertz Lithium provides positive update on lithium extraction technology development

Hertz Lithium Inc (CSE:HZ, OTCQB:HZLIF) has provided an update on its patent-pending lithium extraction technology being developed in partnership with Penn State University, saying it recently executed the Sponsored Research Agreement with Penn State to move the technology into the next phase of development.   

The mineral exploration company noted the primary objectives of the research project are to optimize the process conditions to maximize the recovery of lithium in water leaching to eliminate the acid leaching process or reduce the chemical consumption as well as conduct a kinetic study to obtain the required data for pilot scale testing. 

“As the lithium mineral deposits get discovered and the demand for lithium for electric batteries continues to surge, the focus is now shifting to developing lithium extraction technologies that are more economical and environmentally friendly,” Hertz Lithium CEO Kal Malhi said in a statement.  

“Hertz Lithium and Penn State are pleased to be fast tracking the development of our hard rock lithium extraction technology and take this to the next stage of development,” Malhi added.  

Hertz said the technology is designed to be a novel process for the extraction of lithium from alpha spodumene. 

Spodumene mineral is the major source of high-purity lithium, however, current technologies do not allow leaching of lithium from alpha spodumene, and therefore most of the methods of lithium extraction from spodumene are focused on modifying the crystal structure of concentrated spodumene mineral using conventional heating (roasting) at 950-1100 degrees Celsius, according to the company.   

It added that such high-temperature roasting processes are very energy intensive and have been the bottleneck of the economic extraction of lithium from ores, but that Penn State has discovered a method designed to satisfy the need for more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods for a high-yield extraction of lithium.  

Hertz Lithium is a British Columbia based mineral exploration company engaged primarily in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties while also working to develop a novel lithium extraction technology.  

The company currently has one material mineral property, the Lucky Mica Project located in Arizona, which is in the exploration stage.   

Contact Sean at [email protected]