EnergySource in California files patent for Lithium extraction from geothermal brine

Hudson Ranch I, California, U.S. (source: EnergySource)

Alexander Richter 19 Aug 2019

Geothermal operator EnergySource has filed for a patent for a system and process for recovery of lithium and other metals from a geothermal brine process from a Salton Sea known geothermal resource area brine.

Geothermal operator EnergySource that operates the John L Featherstone (Hudson Ranch I) geothermal power plant in the Salton Sea in California has filed for a patent for the extraction of lithium from geothermal brine.

“This invention relates generally to a system and process for recovery of select minerals and lithium from a geothermal brine. The system and process are configured for the sequential recovery of zinc, manganese, and lithium from a Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area brine. The system and process includes: 1) an impurity removal circuit; then 2) a continuous counter-current ion exchange (CCIX) circuit for selectively recovering lithium chloride from the brine flow and concentrating it using a CCIX unit; and then 3) a lithium chloride conversion circuit for converting lithium chloride to lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide product.”

For further details see link below.

Source: U.S. Patent & Trademark office