- Testing shows spodumene from Sayona Mining’s (SYA) Authier Lithium Project can be processed into 99.99 per cent pure lithium hydroxide
- The company says this is an essential requirement to meet the needs of battery manufacturers
- A partial lithium hydroxide sample has been dispatched to dual-listed Novonix Battery Technology Solutions in Canada
- This test work will evaluate whether the sample meets lithium-ion battery standards as well as its performance in commercial cells
- Company shares are down 1.02 per cent and trading at 9.7 cents at 11:33 am AEST
Sayona Mining (SYA) has confirmed spodumene from its Authier Lithium Project can be refined to produce lithium hydroxide at a 99.99 per cent purity.
This marks a significant milestone for the emerging lithium producer to advance downstream processing in Quebec, Canada, where the Authier Lithium Project is located.
Australian hydroxide technology company, ICS Lithium, processed the Authier spodumene samples by using its sustainable, closed loop refining system.
The samples were then analysed at government research agency CSIRO, in its mineral resources lab in Perth, Western Australia, which confirmed their “exceptional purity.”
Sayona Mining Managing Director, Brett Lynch, said the high-purity results would pave the way for a market-valued product.
“This trial has highlighted that Authier spodumene can be refined into high purity lithium hydroxide. This is an essential requirement to meet the needs of battery manufacturers and enhances the market value of our product.”
In addition, part of the lithium hydroxide sample was dispatched to dual-listed Novonix Battery Technology Solutions in Nova Scotia, Canada. The sample will be processed with other cathode‐precursor materials into lithium‐ion batteries using Novonix’s pilot cell line.
Essentially, these tests will evaluate whether the sample meets lithium-ion battery standards as well as its performance in commercial cells.
Ultimately, the results will determine whether the Authier Lithium Project can deliver a high-purity product that’s suitable for leading battery cathode makers in North America.
Company shares were down 1.02 per cent and trading at 9.7 cents at 11:33 am AEST.