Australian Potash Confirms MOP to SOP Conversion Process at Lake Wells

Australian Potash Ltd. (ASX:APC) announced that laboratory-based test work has confirmed that muriate of potash (MOP) at its Lake Wells potash project in Western Australia can be converted into sulfate of potash (SOP).
As quoted in the press release:

This test-work further confirms the ability of the project to increase its SOP output by 50,000tpa to 150,000tpa in stage 1, and by 100,000tpa to 300,000tpa in stage 2, utilising a similar non-Mannheim conversion process to that currently used at the largest brine SOP operation outside of China (Compass Minerals, US).
APC’s Canadian based SOP engineering consultants Novopro, lead the test-work program. Novopro also lead the plant design and process engineering for APC’s study programs.

Matt Shackleton, executive chairman at Australian Potash, commented:

The Lake Wells SOP project has very high levels of sulphate, which itself is a valuable fertiliser component. Sulphate provides a natural, high-quality source of sulphur, often referred to as the fourth ‘macro-nutrient’.
Unlike the Mannheim process, the conversion process we will use does not create the additional reagent expense associated with purchasing sulphuric acid, as sulphate is already present in our brine. In fact, the economic case for developing this conversion facility is compelling in light of the low marginal operating costs associated with producing an additional 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of SOP from essentially the same plant.
Our project team continue to de-risk the three essential components of a brine SOP operation, being brine extraction, brine evaporation and salt processing.

Click here to read the full Australian Potash Ltd. (ASX:APC) press release.