Visit of the UC Energy Center's lithium study team to SIMCO Lithium

A few weeks ago, our lithium studies team of the UC Energy Center, led by René Rojas (Director of the Direct Lithium Extraction Research Ring), together with Donovan Díaz (Alternate Director of the Direct Lithium Extraction Research Ring) and Ángel Leiva (Principal Investigator of the Direct Lithium Extraction Research Ring), had the opportunity to visit the facilities of SIMCO Lithium's direct extraction pilot plant in Copiapó.

During the visit, we learned about the infrastructure and operation of this innovative plant, which implements processes based on the leading Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT). This approach, developed by IBC Advanced Technologies, is widely recognized for its high efficiency in the selective separation of various elements, using scientific principles that have been awarded the Nobel Prize, highlighting its impact and innovation in applied chemistry.

The core of the MRT system at the plant is comprised of SuperLig® 285 resins, packed in columns specifically designed to maximize efficiency. These resins exhibit exceptional selectivity to capture lithium, even in the face of significant concentrations of other cations present in the brine, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium and boron. This selectivity eliminates the need for prior purification processes.

The pilot plant aims to calibrate and validate processes for the efficient, fast and sustainable extraction of lithium from the brines of the Salar de Maricunga. This work is a key step towards industrial-scale production, projecting the extraction of 22,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year in the future.

These instances are fundamental to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia, sharing knowledge and moving together towards a more sustainable development.

#Lithium #SustainableEnergy #Innovation #CentroDeEnergíaUC