Spodumene processing company Medaro Mining has progressed to an advanced stage of development in its production of high-purity lithium, aluminium, and silicon dioxide.
Medaro is now focusing on isolating aluminium-rich liquid and solid materials. It then treats these materials chemically, with the aim of generating aluminium hydroxide and aluminium oxide.
The key development in this phase is in applying a closed-loop system, chief technology executive James Blencoe said.
Medaro has moved towards closed-loop cycles in the chemical stages of the spodumene processing circuit, Blencoe said. Minimising the number of cycles is key, as is ensuring that each cycle proceeds rapidly, he said.
These steps "link to reduced material requirements, minimal waste production, a smaller factory footprint, and lower overall energy consumption," Blencoe said.
These developments will lower cost reductions and increase profitability, he said.
Medaro chief executive Michael Mulberry is very encouraged by the results.
"Results to date have been very promising and shifting our focus to isolating aluminium-rich liquid and solid materials further demonstrates our commitment to not only create a process that can benefit and improve lithium mining exploration, but to create a process that is environmentally friendly," he said.
In March, Medaro said it had identified several new methods to purify lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate.
It is preparing for its first provisional application which will include two separate methods for processing spodumene concentrates.
