Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
- Lithium Australia’s (LIT) recycling division, Envirostream Australia, is currently assessing the use of zinc and manganese in fertilisers
- The materials have come from recycled alkaline batteries and could provide micro-nutrients for crops
- A site has been selected in Western Australia’s wheatbelt to begin trials
- Soils in this area have a low pH level and lack manganese, zinc, and phosphate which makes it ideal for fertilisers that contain manganese and zinc compounds
- Envirostream is planning to conduct additional field trials outside of Australia to explore and enhance the efficacy of this product
- Lithium Australia is steady on the market today and shares are currently trading for five cents each
Lithium Australia’s (LIT) recycling division, Envirostream Australia, is currently assessing the use of zinc and manganese in fertilisers.
The materials have come from recycled alkaline batteries and could provide micro-nutrients for crops.
Initial trials that have been completed in controlled greenhouse conditions have indicated that this product did have potential as a source of micro-nutrients in fertilisers.
Promisingly, it also provides an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of battery industry and landfill contamination.
“Globally, the disposal of alkaline batteries has become a major problem,” Managing Director Adrian Griffin commented.
“Our plan for repurposing the active components of the spent cells is not only a significant step towards worldwide environmental management of the issue, but it could also have a powerful influence on the sustainability of disposable batteries,” he added.
Lithium Australia and Envirostream have selected a suitable site in the wheatbelt of Western Australia for field trials.
This region produces roughly 14 million tonnes of grain per year and is a sizeable contributor to Australia’s export economy.
Soils in this area have a low pH level and lack manganese, zinc, and phosphate. This makes the soil ideal for fertilisers that contain the manganese and zinc compounds such as those Envirostream has extracted.
The manganese and zinc compounds have already begun the process of being mixed with fertilisers. Wheat seeding is estimated to begin in the next two weeks.
Envirostream is planning to conduct additional field trials outside of Australia to explore and enhance the efficacy of this product.
Lithium Australia is steady on the market today and shares are trading for five cents each at 1:24 pm AEST.
