R3 Fusion, a cleantech company engaged in the development and commercial application of process intensification technology, has obtained an order from Li3 Energy, a developmental stage firm in the lithium mining and energy sector, to investigate the application of R3 Fusion’s in house evaporation technology to process lithium-containing chemicals and brines.
R3 Fusion has developed the short path condensate recovery (SPaCeR) technology that is capable of efficient separation of pure water from various fluids such as frac water, industrial waste streams and briny solutions. The technology eliminates the need for membranes or chemicals.
Chief Operating Officer of Li3 Energy, Thomas Currin stated that the company is delighted to work with R3 Fusion to assess the application of SPaCeR technology for Li3 Energy’s Maricunga project. If the assessment is successful, the technology is expected to reduce the processing times for the clean distilled water collection and to significantly decrease capital expenditures. These benefits would enhance the total financial economics and minimize commercial production time.
R3 Fusion’s Founder and CTO, Dr. Roshan Jachuck, remarked that the natural processes used to recover lithium from brines are extremely slow. The company has received the current order to demonstrate the major advantage of the SPaCeR technology for the above application.