Mandrake Resources

Next Generation DLE Provider Electralith Produces 99.9% Pure Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide from Mandrake Brine

Mandrake Resources Limited (ASX: MAN) (Mandrake or the Company) advises that next- generation Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Refining provider ElectraLith Pty Ltd (ElectraLith) has produced 99.9% pure battery grade Lithium Hydroxide directly from Mandrake’s 100%-owned flagship 93,755 acre (~379km2) Utah Lithium Project brines.


Highlights

  • Rio Tinto-backed Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Refining company ElectraLith has successfully produced 99.9% pure battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide from Mandrake’s 100%-owned Utah Lithium Project using it’s cutting-edge DLE-R process
  • Requiring no water or chemicals, ElectraLith’s Direct Lithium Extraction and Refining (DLE-R) process has greatly enhanced the potential of the Utah Lithium Project
  • The production of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide direct from brine revolutionises DLE by skipping the conventional interim step of producing lithium carbonate using costly, carbon intensive converters
  • Mandrake and ElectraLith progressing a Strategic Partnership Agreement to facilitate the construction of a DLE-R pilot facility at the Utah Lithium Project

Figure 1: DLE-R - Production of Lithium Hydroxide directly from Utah Lithium Project brine

ElectraLith's DLE and Refining (DLE-R) technology processed brines in parallel from both Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project and Rio Tinto’s globally significant Rincon lithium brine project in Argentina.

Spun out of Monash University and backed by Rio Tinto and IP Group Australia, ElectraLith’s DLE-R is emerging as one of the cleanest, fastest, most versatile and cost-efficient methods of extracting and refining lithium. It’s proprietary electro-membrane technology requires no water or chemicals and can run entirely on renewable power, making it ideal for the water and resource constrained Paradox Basin.

Mandrake sent ElectraLith brines from the Lisbon B-912 well - one of the lower lithium concentration bulk samples from sampling activities undertaken in December 2023. The Lisbon B-912 brines contained 65.6mg/L lithium whilst the Big Indian #1 well (bulk sample sent to DLE provider Electroflow – results expected shortly) brines contained lithium concentrations of 147mg/L. Please see Mandrake’s ASX release of 22 January 2024 and Table 1 attached for further details.

ElectraLith’s work represents the groundbreaking production of Lithium Hydroxide direct from Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project brines. It also confirms DLE-R’s ability to do so without consuming water or chemicals, greatly enhancing the potential of the Utah Lithium Project.

The ability of ElectraLith’s DLE-R technology to produce battery grade Lithium Hydroxide directly from brine revolutionises DLE by completely circumventing the conventional interim steps of lithium processing, being the production of lithium chloride and lithium carbonate, which often involves the use of costly, carbon intensive converters.

The relationship between ElectraLith and Mandrake is non-exclusive, enabling Mandrake to continue exploring and assessing other competing DLE technologies. To that end, Mandrake is currently awaiting test results from bulk brine samples sent to the Bill Gates-backed US- based DLE company Electroflow (see ASX release dated 22 December 2023).

Figure 2: James Allchurch (Mandrake), Dr SJ Oosthuizen (ElectraLith) and Charles MacGill (ElectraLith) at ElectraLith’s

Managing Director James Allchurch commented:

‘DLE technology is absolutely critical to the future of lithium and the broader global energy transition. Our research into this innovative technology has been comprehensive, quickly identifying ElectraLith as one of the leaders in the field. The ability for ElectraLith’s DLE-R to produce Lithium Hydroxide directly from brine using limited power, no water and no chemicals is revolutionary in the DLE space, putting Mandrake’s US-based brine asset in a commanding position.

I look forward to concluding a partnership agreement with ElectraLith which will facilitate the construction of a DLE-R facility at Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project.

Furthermore, the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Utalh Lithium Project is well advanced, and I look forward to updating the market when complete.’


Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Mandrake Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

The Conversation (0)
Text 'Lithium' overlaid on stock chart with a globe in the background.

Top 7 Global Lithium Stocks in 2025

The lithium market faced continued pressure in Q1 2025 as oversupply and weaker-than-expected demand pushed prices to a four-year low, with the lithium carbonate CIF North Asia price dipping below US$9,550 per metric ton.

The broad market decline led many analysts to speculate that the market had bottomed and a rebound was imminent. This was further supported by production cuts in China and Australia aimed at stabilizing supply.

Despite near-term challenges, long-term prospects remain strong, highlighted by Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) AU$6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, the company formed by the merger of Allkem and Livent.

Keep reading...Show less
Blue battery with Australian flag design on a wooden surface.

4 Best-performing ASX Lithium Stocks of 2025

Global demand for lithium presents a significant opportunity for Australia, which is home to many ASX lithium mining stocks as the world's top lithium producer.

Australia’s abundant lithium reserves and strong mining sector, position the country as a key player in the battery value chain into the 2030s. However, rapid electric vehicle (EV) market growth projections drove increased lithium mining rates, leading to a global surplus.

Against that backdrop, Australia’s lithium sector faced headwinds in Q1 2025 due to falling global lithium prices and continued market oversupply.

Keep reading...Show less
A sack of US money.

California Touts US$540 Billion Salton Sea Lithium Discovery

Scientists have discovered an estimated US$540 billion worth of lithium beneath California’s Salton Sea, a finding that could reshape the global energy market and reduce US reliance on foreign lithium supply.

The Salton Sea, located in Southern California’s Imperial County, has long been considered an environmental concern due to its receding shoreline and rising air pollution.

Now, researchers funded by the US Department of Energy have confirmed the area holds approximately 18 million metric tons of lithium — far more than previous estimates of 4 million metric tons.

Keep reading...Show less
Lithium periodic symbol and Canadian flag.

Top 5 Canadian Lithium Stocks of 2025

The lithium market continued to battle headwinds during the first quarter of 2025 as residual oversupply weighed on prices, pushing them to a four year low.

Weaker-than-expected demand to start the year also added pressure to the oversupplied market, resulting in the lithium carbonate CIF North Asia price to fall below US$9,550 per metric ton, its lowest point since 2021.

Analysts have suggested the persistent downturn is the signaling of a market bottom. This theory is further supported by a projected production reduction that will help absorb market oversupply.

Keep reading...Show less
Green blocks with leaves on them push purple blocks with "CO2" written on them.

Funding the Energy Transition: The Role of Public and Private Finance in Building Supply Chains

The energy transition demands substantial funding as participants look to build out infrastructure and supply chains, but experts say new solutions are emerging to help navigate this landscape.

During the "Financing the Energy Transition" panel at the Benchmark Summit, participants discussed the role of government and public sector investment, as well as the outlook for Canada's electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

Moderated by Adam Webb, head of battery raw materials at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the discussion at the Toronto-based event opened with a snapshot of Canada’s EV battery supply chain buildout.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×