One World Lithium Inc. (CSE: OWLI) has announced a research engagement with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI), working alongside Moleaer Inc., a leader in nanobubble technology, to advance its Direct Lithium Carbonation Extraction (DLCE) technology. The objective is to accelerate the development toward a containerized pilot plant for field testing lithium recovery from brine.
Moleaer is currently assembling two Nanobubble Generators, along with additional equipment, to be shipped to the universities within the next six to eight weeks. The equipment will be used to continue DLCE test work, with the goal of advancing toward the design and construction of a pilot plant for field testing of lithium in brine.
The first phase of the R&D work focuses on continued validation and optimization of the DLCE process, which uses a nanobubble extraction process with carbon dioxide (CO2) to separate lithium from brines. The pilot system is intended to demonstrate the potential for direct production of lithium carbonate from natural brines. In parallel, UBC and UCI will evaluate potential recovery or co-production of additional industrial carbonates from brine, including sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These materials, if successfully recovered at scale, could represent incremental revenue streams and improve overall project economics.
The second phase involves test work on lithium clay to create an effective lithium slurry, validating the DLCE technology to produce lithium carbonate from clay slurry under various conditions. This process would enable lithium carbonate generation directly from slurries made from clays, without requiring sulfuric acids, soda ash, sorbents, or multiple concentration steps.
At UBC, the team will be led by Dr. Alex Tavasoli, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Tavasoli’s research group, the Laboratory of Future Industry (LoFI), conducts research into the design, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization of novel sustainable industrial production processes. At UCI, Dr. James Earthman, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, will oversee the design and fabrication of testing facilities. Dr. Earthman has extensive experience in nanobubble research and holds 16 issued U.S. patents.
Doug Fulcher, President and CEO of One World Lithium, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have such a talented team working with us in advancing OWL’s DLCE technology. We believe that under the direct supervision of Dr. Earthman with his background in research and management of materials using nanobubbles and Dr. Tavasoli’s background in chemical engineering and industrial production processing, and alongside the expertise of Moleaer’s nanobubble team, we are in a position to fast track our DLCE process and complete the construction of a container-size test plant in a timely manner.”
Unlike traditional methods that typically produce lithium intermediates requiring additional downstream processing, the DLCE technology aims to produce lithium carbonate directly in a single step. By integrating carbon dioxide in the separation chemistry and minimizing chemical inputs, OWL expects reduced environmental impacts, lower capital and operating costs, and potential carbon credit opportunities, subject to further testing.
For more information, visit https://oneworldlithium.com/.
