Australian salt brine explorer Anson Resources Limited (ASX: ASN) reports that test work to extract and recover bromine from brine from Anson’s Paradox Brine Project in Utah, USA has been successfully completed in Germany.
Anson is developing the Paradox Basin Brine Project for recovery of valuable chemicals from a unique salt brine resource. The project will supply lithium chemicals to the rapidly growing battery market, and will produce high value by-products including bromine, iodine, and boron.
De Dietrich Process Systems GmbH has successfully completed the first stage of test work in a laboratory in Germany consisting of the oxidation of the brine using chlorine gas to convert the dissolved bromide ions into bromine liquid.
Anson’s Executive Chairman and CEO, Bruce Richardson, said that as a result of the successful laboratory test work, stage 2 pilot plant test work will commence at De Dietrich premises in Germany later this month.
The pilot plant for this test work has already been constructed at De Dietrich and minor modifications will be made to it after the review of the laboratory test work,” Mr Richardson said.
The pilot plant will use the well known and understood “Kubierschky Process” for the extraction and recovery of bromine from Anson’s Paradox brine.
De Dietrich has extensive experience in bromine plants having designed, engineered and supplied equipment to 31 bromine projects throughout the world most recently to companies in India.
The results of the pilot plant test work are expected in December and will include CAPEX and OPEX estimates which will be incorporated into the PEA/PFS that Anson plans to commence before the end of the year.
In addition, a bromine product sample will be produced as part of the test work. After analysis, Anson intends to offer this sample to potential investors and offtake partners for their consideration.
Anson is targeting mineral rich brines in the deepest part of the Paradox Basin in close proximity to Moab, Utah.
