Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and Canadian company Standard Lithium are planning to collaborate on the commercial production of battery grade lithium from the brine at El Dorado, Arkansas, USA. Both parties are currently considering setting up a joint venture. LANXESS operates three plants for the production of bromine products in El Dorado. The bromine is extracted from the brine produced at the site, which also contains lithium.

“For us, innovation also means developing new uses for existing products. The cooperation with Standard Lithium is still at a very early stage, but could open up exciting prospects for us in a trend-setting industry,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.

The technical and economic feasibility of the project is currently being examined. For the planned cooperation, LANXESS will grant access to its existing infrastructure at the site. Standard Lithium will build and operate a pilot plant on premises. The Canadian company has developed an innovative process for the extraction of high-purity lithium directly from brines.

At its El Dorado site, LANXESS processes several million litres of brine every day, which are pumped into wells and transported via pipelines to the production facilities. The company currently employs around 500 people there.

LANXESS is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bromine, bromine precursors and brominated flame retardants. Bromine and bromine-based intermediates serve as building blocks for the production of highly complex molecules. They are used in many applications, including flame retardants, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, butyl rubber, polymers and biocides.