Clayton Valley Lithium Project Thyssenkrupp Nucera Wins Contract for Designing, Engineering Chlor-Alkali Plant

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Cypress Development is conducting a feasibility study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada, USA. In this background, thyssenkrupp nucera has been selected to carry out the designing and engineering for a chlor-alkali plant which will help the project to self-generate two key reagents for processing lithium-bearing claystone in order to produce lithium carbonate products.

Vancouver/Canada – Cypress Development Corp. has selected thyssenkrupp nucera USA for designing and engineering a chlor-alkali plant, part of the ongoing feasibility study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada, USA. The chlor-alkali plant is an essential component which will allow the project to self-generate two key reagents required for processing lithium-bearing claystone through to a Li2CO3 (lithium carbonate) product.

“The company’s selection of thyssenkrupp nucera is another important step towards completion of the feasibility study for the project’s production of lithium carbonate. Their experience and proven track record as an electrolysis technology company with worldwide knowledge in the chlor-alkali field will add to our feasibility study,” stated Bill Willoughby, President, and CEO of Cypress Development.

thyssenkrupp nucera USA is the U.S. subsidiary of thyssenkrupp nucera. thyssenkrupp nucera’s scope of work will include the development of a facility concept for treatment of the recovered brine stream from Cypress’ process and ensure compatibility with the membrane electrolysis cells of a chlor-alkali plant. Standardized and proprietary e-Bitacv7 BiPolar type membrane cell electrolyzers from thyssenkrupp nucera serve as the heart of the chlor-alkali plant to generate the key reagents HCl (hydrochloric acid) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide) required to process the lithium ore.

The NaCl (sodium chloride) and H2O (water) molecules present in the recovered brine are electrolyzed to produce Cl2 (chlorine), H2 (hydrogen) and the sodium hydroxide, where the outside of the cells, the chlorine and hydrogen molecules are combined to produce hydrochloric acid.

The company’s feasibility study on the project commenced in March 2022 under the direction of Wood, with support from Global Resource Engineers, Continental Metallurgical Services, WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure, and Cypress.

Progress on the feasibility study is advancing as planned. Wood and the supporting teams have completed or are near completion of several key items, including resource and reserve estimates, mine plan, processing plant design, and tailings and waste storage facilities.

Positive results were shown from the test work conducted at Saltworks Technologies where high purity lithium carbonate was made at Saltworks from concentrated lithium solutions produced at Cypress’ Lithium Extraction Facility in Nevada. Saltworks has since completed a second phase of testing which examined the production of lithium from the blowdown-brine stream collected during the lithium carbonate concentration in the first stage of testing.

The company has reported that these results are positive and confirm the viability of an increase in lithium recovery via re-concentration of the blowdown-brine and production of additional lithium carbonate solids. Results from third-party laboratory analysis are pending for lithium carbonate quality obtained during this test. This step has the potential to significantly reduce the volume required to be recycled back to the upstream direct lithium recovery (DLE) plant and reduce size and capital cost of the DLE plant.

Based on the progress and results from Saltworks, Cypress is focusing on lithium carbonate as the end-product for the feasibility study and has engaged Saltworks to provide the engineering and design for the final steps in producing lithium carbonate. Based on timelines for the major components and cost analysis, as well as to allow thyssenkrupp nucera sufficient time to complete its design and optimization studies, the company expects the feasibility study to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.

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