Greener lithium products a step closer with ECU industry deal

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is partnering with Australia’s first lithium manufacturer Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia in a collaboration focused on exploring ways to maximise the use of Australia’s finite lithium resources, and potentially accelerate decarbonisation. Australia’s lithium resources accounted for more than 55% of the annual global lithium supply in 2021.

The collaboration is being led by ECU’s Professor of Chemical Engineering, Hongqi Sun.

“This partnership on lithium with TLEA is another big leap forward for Australia’s renewable energy future, and together we are excited to deliver research outcomes in years to come,” he said.

Lithium exports are already playing a significant role in maintaining Australia's run of strong trade surpluses, as illustrated in recent ABS data. Experts claim Australia will continue to have a key role in supplying lithium to the global market in coming years.

In May 2022, TLEA produced Australia’s first battery-grade lithium at its plant in Kwinana. The lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) being produced is preferred by battery manufacturers like Tesla, and the Kwinana refinery now has the capacity to produce 24,000 tonnes of per year, per production train. The WA plant is currently operating one production train, with a second partially completed, and has the potential to expand to up to four trains.

“By producing materials from our lithium resources with beneficial uses, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to Australia’s decarbonisation efforts as well as those of our off-take customers,” said TLEA CEO Raj Surendran. “We are very pleased to be part of this collaboration and to be able to tap into the University’s research expertise to investigate how aluminosilicate’s properties can be enhanced to expand these existing market uses.”

The Kwinana Plant was specifically designed to produce by-products that will derive the maximum benefit from the spodumene ore concentrate (residue produced after lithium extraction) sourced from the Talison Lithium Mine, in Greenbushes, the world’s largest, highest grade hard rock lithium deposit.

In addition to lithium, the plant produces Gyplime, sodium sulphate and a low sulphur aluminosilicate, which has uses as supplementary cementitious material in concrete production, in retaining blocks or in paste fill.

Sun said ECU shares the same environmental ambitions as TLEA, and together they plan to accelerate the future of greener lithium products.

“Lithium is a strategic resource for the whole planet, and the key to future energy sustainability,” Sun said. “This is all about taking responsibility of making energy green, so we must make the process of manufacturing it greener as well.”

Image caption: Kwinana Lithium Plant.