The Next-ChemX system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\niTDE is a proprietary system with patents pending that does not require high pressure, high temperatures, or electrolysis. It is not a traditional selective solvent extraction method and does not employ ion exchange resins. While iTDE does employ certain specially designed membranes, it does not use a high-pressure reverse osmosis membrane system.<\/p>\n
In our ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology system, the feed liquid containing the targeted materials does not touch or mix with the extracting solution. Ions are extracted using a special very high surface area membrane along with a specific extractant for each targeted ion. This means that the brine feed solution remains within the iTDE closed system until a quantity approaching 100% of the valued commodities are extracted from the feed liquid.<\/p>\n
Our technology has already been proven to extract lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, nickel, and copper among other ions.<\/p>\n
By the very nature of the iTDE system\u2019s operational process, it is completely \u2018scalable,\u2019 operating in a modular fashion that allows additional membranes to be added to increase performance. The more membrane modules that are applied, the greater the extraction capability providing the ability to manage large commercial operations.<\/p>\n
iTDE is a targeted solution<\/h3>\n Ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology is an engineered chemical solution to the problems of modern-day mining. Since each brine or leach solution has its own specific composition that is dependent at the outset on the geology in which it was formed, and since iTDE targets different ions in specific ways, each iTDE system is optimised for a particular brine or leach solution. In addition, the system provides the flexibility to concentrate more than one ion system potentially generating additional revenue potential.<\/p>\n
As a result, our chemical engineering team tailors each deployed iTDE system to each individual customer\u2019s liquid composition and commercial plan. iTDE systems are configured to selectively remove the ions required by each particular customer. As a result, the deployment of the system follows a required path.<\/p>\n
First, customers should supply samples of the feed liquid that must be sent to the company\u2019s laboratory for testing. These samples are then processed through the company\u2019s pilot plant to generate extraction data used in designing a solution to fit the customer\u2019s requirement. At present, the company is completing the construction of its improved commercial pilot plant, which is anticipated to be operating in the third quarter of 2023 in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n
The decisive factor and a key advantage in commencing with this process of analysis is that it enables all of the potential value in the brines to be studied so that the extraction process can be optimised with customer input. This allows for the construction of a system that will extract not only the primary desired element contained in the brine or liquor but also potentially secondary, tertiary or even more commercially valuable elements that have their own particular markets. In this way, our unique system can maximise the return of every element of value contained in the customer\u2019s solution.<\/p>\n
At this stage of deployment, our team can work out the extraction kinetics of the customer\u2019s particular requirements. Preliminary economic feasibility defining operating costs can also be provided. Once scale is defined, the capital costs of deployment to implement an iTDE system with specific performance targets can be supplied.<\/p>\n
iTDE in commercial operation: Market launch<\/h3>\n In March 2023, NEXT-ChemX announced a Partnership with Clontarf Energy plc, a UK company, seeking to use our iTDE technology in Bolivia. The goal is to commercialise the extraction of lithium and other ions from Bolivia\u2019s massive brine salars. Bolivia is known to have the world\u2019s largest quantity of lithium-containing brines. However, they are mostly unexploited due to many factors, including very high magnesium content, rainfall which makes evaporation ponds inefficient, as well as environmental sensitivity.<\/p>\n
These defining Bolivian issues, which represent difficulties for the use of traditional systems, are mitigated by using the ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology system; moreover, even the high content of magnesium could be extracted as a valuable by-product. Our system operates to selectively extract very pure ions, resulting in a very concentrated metal salt.<\/p>\n
Samples are being prepared in Bolivia to be sent for preliminary testing in our laboratory pilot systems. Upon determining the best configuration for each specific brine sample, we will design a specific system that will process very large samples for conclusive testing through our commercial pilot plant. After successful pre-feasibility economic analysis, a scaled-up commercial pilot plant system would be deployed to the site for a total proof of concept prior to engineering the full-scale commercial plant.<\/p>\n
NEXT-ChemX has also held advanced discussions with lithium projects in both Argentina and Chile, and is commencing discussions with projects in Nevada and Utah in the US, as well as in Europe.<\/p>\n
iTDE advantages<\/h3>\n Ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology offers several advantages over traditional extraction methods:<\/p>\n
Higher efficiency:<\/strong> iTDE can extract almost 100% of the targeted ions from liquids, even with very low ion concentrations, making it a more efficient solution compared to traditional methods.<\/p>\nContinuous process:<\/strong> The iTDE system is a continuous process and does not have the problematic issues of a \u2018batch\u2019 process, as found in liquid solvent extraction or selective ion resin extraction.<\/p>\nLow energy use:<\/strong> Since the iTDE system does not need a high pressure or high temperature, the energy consumption is low compared to other methods of extraction.<\/p>\nCost-effectiveness:<\/strong> The technology necessitates less infrastructure and has lower operating costs than traditional extraction methods, resulting in cost savings.<\/p>\nEnvironmental benefits:<\/strong> iTDE eliminates the need for evaporation ponds and their harmful side effects of water loss and chemical waste pollution. Additionally, iTDE reduces the environmental footprint of the extraction process.<\/p>\nWater present in brine:<\/strong> After extraction of the targeted ions, the remaining brine can either be reinjected into the salar or further purified to produce agricultural water or even potable water.<\/p>\nLow water use:<\/strong> Since our process extracts ions directly from brine feedstock, there is very little need for freshwater since there is water in the brine. We only require the feedstock to be an aqueous solution in the case of brines or leach solutions.<\/p>\nFlexibility: <\/strong>Our technology can be applied to extract various ions from different types of liquids, making it a versatile solution for the extraction industry.<\/p>\nValuable by-products:<\/strong> Our technology allows the extraction of other targeted ions, such as magnesium if it exists in high concentrations, which may be very valuable to offset the primary targeted ion extraction costs. Other ions that may be valuable from certain brine locations include potassium, etc.<\/p>\nHigh-purity ion extraction:<\/strong> iTDE produces very high-purity extractions of the targeted ions, which allows us to produce any number of secondary products, such as lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium phosphate, or lithium metal. The same is true for producing pure magnesium metal, especially in the case where magnesium exists in high concentrations, such as Bolivia.<\/p>\niTDE technology potential applications<\/h3>\n Ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology has a broad range of other developed and developing applications, including:<\/p>\n
Lithium extraction:<\/strong> The technology can efficiently extract lithium from brines<\/a>, making it an invaluable system to economically supply lithium for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle and battery industries.<\/p>\nMining industry:<\/strong> The technology can be applied to extract valuable elements from mining leach solutions as well as mine waste and tailings, reducing environmental damage and increasing valuable resource recovery.<\/p>\nBattery recycling:<\/strong> Since iTDE can selectively extract battery metals continuously, batteries could be dissolved in a solution passed through our technology system.<\/p>\nRadioactive water treatment:<\/strong> iTDE can be used to remove radioactive isotopes such as strontium and caesium from nuclear wastewater sources, enhancing water quality and safety.<\/p>\nRare earth metals:<\/strong> iTDE can be used to extract rare earth metals from solutions derived from mine leach solutions or the recycling of materials containing rare earth metals.<\/p>\nVegetable oil refining:<\/strong> iTDE can remove fatty acids from vegetable oils in a quick continuous process to refine such oils economically without mixing in traditional batch processes.<\/p>\nBiodiesel:<\/strong> iTDE can remove all the glycerides from biofuel production in a continuous quick process, instead of the common batch processes typically used.<\/p>\nWater treatment:<\/strong> iTDE could potentially also remove salts from seawater and brackish waters.<\/p>\nNext ChemX: The company behind iTDE<\/h3>\n NEXT-ChemX Corporation is a Nevada corporation, trading as \u2018CHMX\u2019, on the OTC Market in the United States.<\/p>\n
Our company is based upon its founders\u2019 previous successes in materials science and process engineering, which years ago developed, among other things, the first commercial aluminium-scandium alloys and processes to extract low concentrations of scandium from complex ores and certain industrial process tailings. Those scandium alloys are still the strongest light aluminium alloys and are used in many applications in aerospace, defence products, commercial planes, and sports equipment.<\/p>\n
Our founders have also developed liquid mining technology to extract potassium and magnesium from brines created by pumping seawater into carnallite deposits underground. We are building on our experience in scalable processes that are commercially feasible.<\/p>\n
The development of the ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology by NEXT-ChemX Corporation has the potential to disrupt and revolutionise the extraction industry. By offering a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly solution, iTDE can significantly change the way companies extract valuable elements from liquids even when they exist in very low concentrations.<\/p>\n
For more information on NEXT-ChemX and our ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology, please contact: info@next-chemx.com<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the fourteenth edition of our\u00a0quarterly publication<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Learn about Ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology, a radically new approach to the commercial extraction of metallic ions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":32089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24502],"tags":[529,24206,24497,24308,24495],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Ion-Targeting Direct Extraction technology for commercial lithium extraction<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n