According to the Intellifinance app, GTJA released a research report stating that, according to Securities Times and ScienceNet: 'Dr. Li Zhikao of Monash Institute of Science and Technology in Suzhou Industrial Park, in collaboration with Professor Zhang Xiwang, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, has successfully developed a loose nanofiltration membrane process assisted by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), achieving efficient extraction of lithium resources from salt lakes, while also realizing value-added utilization of magnesium resources. The rapid development of lithium extraction from salt lakes in China, and the trend of replacing imported membrane materials will drive the application of membrane-based lithium extraction technologies, bringing new development opportunities for leading companies with core membrane separation technologies such as vontron technology (000920.SZ), Weisibo (688718.SH), Suntar Environmental Technology (688101.SH), and others.'

Event:

According to Securities Times and Science Network, the research team has achieved a new breakthrough in lithium extraction from salt lakes technology.

GTJA's main opinions include:

The new technology significantly shortens the production cycle of lithium extraction from salt lakes.

According to Securities Times and ScienceNet: 'Dr. Li Zhikao of Monash Institute of Science and Technology in Suzhou Industrial Park, in collaboration with Professor Zhang Xiwang, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, has successfully developed a loose nanofiltration membrane process assisted by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), achieving efficient extraction of lithium resources from salt lakes, while also realizing value-added utilization of magnesium resources. On October 22, 2024, this groundbreaking achievement, titled 'Sustainable lithium extraction and magnesium hydroxide co-production from salt-lake brines,' was published in the journal Nature Sustainability.'

There is already a loose nanofiltration process in China, with further room for improvement.

The research team has developed the EDTA-assisted loose nanofiltration (EALNF) process, which has been used domestically. Due to the small potential difference between magnesium and lithium ions, the separation efficiency is not high enough. The new technology utilizes the selective chelation effect of EDTA with magnesium ions to significantly amplify the differences in electrical and size properties of lithium and magnesium ions. Through two-stage filtration, it enhances the overall recovery rate of lithium ions and successfully produces battery-grade lithium carbonate products.

Membrane process technology is suitable for applications with high magnesium-lithium ratios, making it suitable for the domestic lithium extraction from salt lakes market.

1) Efficient and sustainable lithium resource extraction is an important strategic issue. Salt lake brine resources are abundant, accounting for over 60% of global lithium resources, but extraction is challenging. The main challenge of lithium extraction from salt lakes lies in the separation of associated ions. Technologies for lithium extraction from low magnesium-lithium ratio salt lakes mainly include precipitation methods, salt gradient solar pond methods, etc. Technologies for lithium extraction from high magnesium-lithium ratio salt lakes mainly include membrane separation methods, extraction methods, adsorption methods, etc. 2) China's salt lake brine lithium resources have high magnesium-lithium ratios and impurities. Membrane separation technology has the advantages of excellent magnesium-lithium separation effect, high recovery rate, short process, short production cycle, and low eco-friendly concept costs.

The increasing substitution ratio of imported membrane materials is driving the maturity and cost reduction of membrane-based lithium extraction technologies from salt lakes.

Currently, China's nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membrane production technologies are relatively mature. The stability and consistency of membrane materials have significantly improved. Against the backdrop of outstanding cost performance advantages, the further increase in market share of domestic leading companies' products is worth looking forward to.

Risk warning:

Lower-than-expected lithium demand, lower-than-expected project progress, etc.