Neometals Ltd on Friday said that it has completed the purification phase of its lithium chemical pilot trial.

According to the London-based sustainable battery materials producer, the purification test work confirmed earlier bench-scale testing, removing over 97% of brine feed source impurities.

This result supports production of a purified brine solution that sits comfortably within specification for subsequent electrolysis stage of the Neometals’ majority owned ELi process, it told investors on Friday.

ELi, Neometals’ 70%-owned lithium chemical processing technology, purifies lithium chloride to the specifications required to conduct electrolysis trials. The process comprises brine purification, followed by electrolysis, where electricity is used to convert lithium chloride solutions into lithium hydroxide and/or lithium carbonate.

The pilot trials are being co-funded by Bondalti Group, Portugal’s largest chlor-alkali chemical producer.

A new co-operation agreement is also being negotiated to cover a proposed demonstration plant in Portugal.

Neometals shares were trading 3.5% lower at 14.00 pence each in London on Friday afternoon.

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