Zelandez launches specialized lithium brine recycling service

The tailored service will provide lithium brine extractors with a full characterization of their reservoirs and optimize the location of injector wells and producer wells. It also includes the design of a reinjection plan that maintains aquifer pressure, ensures the production of preferred brines, whilst also protecting freshwater assets, the company said.

The global demand for sustainable sources of lithium has created a race to develop “Direct Lithium Extraction” technologies (DLE). This is typically used by lithium brine extractors to separate lithium from the salty water held in oil and gas reservoirs and in underground brine aquifers.

The challenge is that when DLE is used, the lithium producer is left with a lot of depleted brine that must go somewhere and underground reinjection is the obvious solution.

“The impetus behind the development of our specialized lithium brine reinjection service is that the normal methods of reinjection, historically used in the oil and gas industry and borrowed by the lithium industry, are simply not delivering the desired results. We all know that oil doesn’t mix with water and depleted lithium brine is miscible with the underlying asset,” Zelandez CEO Gene Morgan said in a media statement.

 “This process totally changes the aquifer management plan and enhances protection of freshwater water assets,” Morgan said. Our new service takes the lithium brine sector significantly closer to true mastery of the subsurface. So much so, that in the lithium brine market we feel that it really shouldn’t even be called “reinjection.” It’s much more accurate to call what we are doing ‘Brine Recycling.’”

Zelandez’ recent US expansion was driven by key issues impacting the US domestic lithium mining industry, and the company said its  lithium brine reinjection service will enable extractors to achieve enhanced levels of environmental stewardship, mining productivity, and resource and risk management.