• Testwork demonstrates Cesano C-1 brine composition closely matches previous desktop study
• ANSTO evaluates lithium extraction options, recommends conventional evaporation/precipitation
• Feasibility of producing technical-grade lithium carbonate and boron from SOP barren liquor

Altamin Ltd has announced the outcomes of testwork performed by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for the company's wholly-owned Lazio project. The primary objective was to investigate the chemistry of the Cesano C-1 well brine and demonstrate the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) and lithium carbonate (LC) products. A secondary objective was to identify opportunities for recovering a boron by-product. ANSTO successfully reproduced the chemistry of the Cesano C-1 well brine in a simulant and demonstrated the precipitation of glaserite, an intermediate to SOP, producing an evaporated liquor composition similar to Altamin's previous desktop study. Following the evaporation-precipitation process to produce SOP, the remaining SOP barren liquor was found to be significantly concentrated in lithium and boron, which are classified as Critical Metals. ANSTO investigated pathways for extracting these valuable metals, concluding that a conventional mechanical evaporation/precipitation method is the preferred approach for lithium extraction as it offers significant environmental and technical benefits over direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies. The testwork also demonstrated the feasibility of producing technical-grade lithium carbonate and boron (as borax) from the SOP barren liquor. Altamin noted that the value of the boron by-product is substantial relative to the contained lithium value, highlighting an opportunity to enhance the Lazio project's economics.

Future optimising flowsheet design will aim towards increased impurity rejection to achieve battery grade lithium carbonate purity.