This report presents the definitive feasibility study for a commercial lithium extraction plant at the LANXESS South Plant in Arkansas, based on testing and historical data.
Report context
The technical report is dated October 18, 2023, with an effective date of August 18, 2023, and was prepared for Standard Lithium Ltd. The project is located at the LANXESS South Plant and is designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from Smackover Formation brine using a direct lithium extraction (DLE) process followed by purification, concentration, and conversion.
Processing route
Process overview
The proposed commercial plant employs a multi-stage processing route. Brine is supplied from the LANXESS South Plant operations, where it is already used for bromine production. The plant design includes brine pre-treatment, direct lithium extraction, lithium chloride solution purification and concentration, and lithium carbonate conversion.
Brine pre-treatment
Pre-treatment of the brine occurs at the LANXESS facility. The process includes brine pH control and brine filtration. Demonstration plant testing was conducted for brine pre-treatment, and key findings were reported from that testwork.
Direct lithium extraction
The DLE process is based on lithium selective sorption. Testing was conducted at a demonstration plant located at the site. The demonstration plant processed brine from the LANXESS operations. After lithium extraction, the lithium-depleted brine is returned to the LANXESS facility for reinjection.
Lithium chloride solution purification and concentration
The LiCl solution from DLE undergoes a series of purification and concentration steps. Testing included brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) for concentration. Calcium and magnesium removal was tested through soda lime softening and ion exchange. Boron removal was tested using ion exchange.
Lithium carbonate crystallization
Three production runs of lithium carbonate were completed during testwork. The first, second, and third production runs each produced lithium carbonate from the purified and concentrated LiCl solution. The crystallization process is followed by drying, milling, and packaging.
Energy, water, and process materials
The report specifies energy requirements, water supply, and reagent needs for the proposed commercial plant. These are based on the design and testwork results.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Basis | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Resource estimate | Geologic and simulation model | Reported in Section 14 |
| Reserve estimate | Definitive feasibility study | Reported in Section 15 |
| Brine source | LANXESS South Plant operations | Smackover Formation |
| DLE process | Demonstration plant testing | Lithium selective sorption |
| Concentration method | Testwork | BWRO and OARO |
| Purification method | Testwork | Soda lime softening, ion exchange |
| Product | Testwork | Lithium carbonate |
Project website: https://www.standardlithium.com/projects/smackover/
Technical qualifications
This report is a NI 43-101 technical report that contains forward-looking information. The mineral resource and reserve estimates, development plans, recovery methods, and production expectations are based on assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and contingencies. The report notes that actual results may vary from those projected. The process descriptions are based on historical testing, demonstration plant testing, and the proposed design for the commercial plant. No actual commercial plant operating data is available as the plant is not yet constructed. The report identifies process technical risks and mitigation measures in Section 13.14.
Source: Technical Report for the Definitive Feasibility Study for Commercial Lithium Extraction Plant at LANXESS South Plant, Report RSI-3353, effective date August 18, 2023, report date October 18, 2023.
Consolidated report summaries
The following former standalone pages about this operation were consolidated here on October 25, 2026. They are retained for source traceability; dates and figures reflect each report’s own effective date and may be superseded by the current information above.
Preliminary Economic Assessment of LANXESS Smackover Project
The proposed project would produce 20,900 tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate from tail-brine leaving LANXESS bromine extraction operations at three facilities in the Smackover project area.
Report context
The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the LANXESS Smackover Project describes Standard Lithium's proposed flowsheet as of the report date. Feed for the project is tail-brine exiting LANXESS bromine extraction operations at three sites designated South, Central, and West. The proposed design covers primary lithium chloride extraction at each facility followed by centralized conversion to lithium carbonate.
Processing route
Overall configuration
The proposed processing route is based on treating tail-brine from three separate LANXESS bromine extraction operations: South, Central, and West. Each facility is designed to host its own primary lithium chloride (LiCl) extraction plant. The primary plants would produce purified and concentrated lithium chloride solutions.
Primary lithium chloride extraction
Each of the three primary extraction plants is shown in the process block flow diagram using a lithium adsorbent step. Tail-brine from the LANXESS operations enters the extraction plant, and the adsorbent circuit produces a lithium chloride solution. The resulting barren-brine is directed to disposal. A recycle stream is also indicated in the block flow diagram, though no additional recycle details are provided in the report text.
Central lithium carbonate plant
The purified and concentrated lithium chloride solutions from the South, West, and Central primary plants are conveyed via pipelines to a single location, identified in the block flow diagram as the Central Plant. The Central Plant is designed to convert the combined lithium chloride solution to the final product: lithium carbonate (Li2CO3).
Product and recovery
The proposed design targets total lithium carbonate production of 20,900 tonnes per year. Overall lithium recovery to the final product is stated at about 90 percent.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Feed source | Tail-brine from LANXESS bromine extraction | Proposed design (South, Central, West operations) |
| Number of primary LiCl extraction plants | 3 | Proposed design |
| Final product | Battery-quality lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) | Proposed design |
| Total lithium carbonate production | 20,900 tonnes/y | Proposed design |
| Lithium recovery to final product | About 90% | Proposed design |
| Primary extraction technology | Lithium adsorbent | Proposed design |
| Intermediate product | Purified and concentrated LiCl solution | Proposed design |
| Intermediate transfer | Pipelines to Central Plant | Proposed design |
| Barren-brine disposition | Disposal | Proposed design |
Project website: https://www.standardlithium.com/technology/demonstration-plant/
Technical qualifications
The report text presents the recovery methods at a block-flow level and does not provide detailed flowsheet descriptions for the adsorbent circuits, purification steps, or the central lithium carbonate conversion plant. No historical operating data or testwork results are reported in the recovery methods section. The production figure of 20,900 tonnes/y and the recovery estimate of about 90% are stated as project objectives or design parameters rather than as demonstrated performance. Quantitative composition of the feed brine, reagent consumptions, energy use, and equipment specifications are not provided in this section.
Source
Preliminary Economic Assessment of LANXESS Smackover Project, Section 17 Recovery Methods.
