Intrepid Potash, Aquatech International, and Adionics have completed demonstration-scale test work for a lithium development project at Intrepid’s Wendover, Utah potash facility, supporting domestic production of battery-grade materials used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
The testing successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate from byproduct brine generated during existing potash operations.
The test program evaluated the conversion of lithium-bearing post-process brine into battery-grade lithium carbonate using direct lithium extraction and downstream refining steps.
The results showed a lithium extraction rate of 92.9%, producing lithium chloride with a purity above 99.5%. Lithium-rich output from Adionics’ extraction process was subsequently processed by Aquatech to validate conversion and refining to lithium carbonate.
Additional testing confirmed the ability to produce lithium carbonate with a purity of at least 99.5%, meeting key specifications for battery manufacturing. Based on these results, the companies will continue technical and economic evaluation of a potential lithium processing facility at Wendover under the existing Joint Development Agreement.
The project is based on recovering lithium from magnesium chloride brine generated as a byproduct of fertilizer production at the Wendover site. The approach leverages existing infrastructure while allowing Intrepid to limit capital exposure and maintain focus on its core fertilizer operations, with the potential to improve margins through lithium recovery.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News