Standard Lithium Processes 1 Million Barrels Brine, Completes 15,000 DLE Cycles
Standard Lithium’s Arkansas demo plant processed 1 million barrels of real-time Smackover Formation brine and logged 340,000 man-hours without a safety incident over six years. The facility completed over 15,000 direct lithium extraction cycles achieving over 95% lithium recovery and 99% contaminant rejection, de-risking its 22,500 tpy SWA Project.
1. Demonstration Plant Volume and Safety Milestone
The Arkansas demonstration plant processed 1 million barrels of real-time Smackover Formation brine and accumulated 340,000 man-hours over six years without a single safety incident, underscoring operational reliability. This continuous operation provides extensive data for process optimization and reinforces the team’s commitment to safety and best practices.
2. Direct Lithium Extraction Performance
The core DLE unit achieved over 15,000 extraction cycles, consistently delivering more than 95% lithium recovery and rejecting over 99% of key contaminants. These performance metrics validate the flowsheet planned for the 22,500 tonne per year South West Arkansas Project and demonstrate technical readiness.
3. Implications for SWA Project Scaling
Milestone data from the demo plant de-risks commissioning and supports an upcoming Final Investment Decision for the SWA Project. Demonstrated scalability and high-quality battery-grade carbonate output strengthen Standard Lithium’s first-mover advantage in the Smackover Formation and its path to commercial-scale production.