Pilot Scale Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines
Summary
SCH Number
2020070199
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Pilot Scale Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/9/2020
Document Description
This project will demonstrate a pilot scale integrated process for the recovery of lithium from geothermal brines. Skid based process equipment will be designed and assembled for demonstration and housed inside a high bay research facility in Menlo Park. Lithium carbonate will be produced from synthetic brine and geothermal brine at a peak flow of 10 LPM. Geothermal brine will be transported to the facility. Compared to traditional methods of Li recovery from brines, the proposed high-capacity selective sorbent and its regeneration process is expected to lower the cost of Li production by enabling online separation with high recovery efficiency, and minimizing processing time.
Contact Information
Name
Chuck Gentry
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Materials Research LLC
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Menlo Park
Counties
San Mateo
Other Location Info
333 Ravenswood Ave, Menlo Park 94025 San Mateo
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
This project is exempt under Cal. Code Regs., tit 14, sec 15301 because it involves skid mounted equipment that will be used to demonstrate the process operation in an existing facility. The skid mounted equipment will be operated in the high bay facility at SRI International which is designated and used for demonstrating chemical processes at a large scale. Operation of this equipment at the facility will involve negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. SRI International is a R&D facility and such activities are permitted under the local jurisdiction. No additional permits are required for the proposed activities.