EWM Issues Paper on Mining Technology (August 2023)

EWM has developed a version of its Full Recovery Desalination® process for lithium brine. This version provides for the profitable recovery of the salt as chemical grade sodium chloride and the magnesium as valuable magnesium metal. In addition, the potassium is recovered as high value potassium nitrate.  EWM’s Full Recovery Desalination® process also recovers 99% of the lithium as battery grade lithium carbonate. The full production of lithium mining potential has not been realized due to technology limitations with some methods only recovering 50% of the lithium. EWM’s process is able to increase recovery in an economically beneficial manner. Airfan condensers are used to condense the water and avoid the evaporation loss and the land use loss (i.e. PV solar field) associated with the ponds typically used for lithium production.

EWM also has developed a version of its Full Recovery Desalination® process for copper tailings. This version provides for the profitable recovery of iron ore and its optional conversion to steel using green hydrogen. It also provides for the profitable recovery of high purity silica (quartz) suitable for solar glass and solar grade silicon production. Recovery of 98% of the valuable desalinated water is simultaneously achieved as a byproduct of recovering the minerals identified above. Airfan condensers are used to condense the water and avoid essentially all evaporation losses.