German specialty chemicals producer Lanxess and Canada’s Standard Lithium are mulling plans for a joint venture to commercially produce battery grade lithium from brine at El Dorado, Arkansas. Technical and economic feasibility studies for the US project are in progress.

Lanxess, which regards itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers of bromine, bromine precursors and brominated flame retardants, already operates three plants for production of bromine products from brine in El Dorado. Standard Lithium has developed a new process for the extraction of high-purity lithium directly from brines.

Under the new collaboration plans, Lanxess would grant Standard Lithium access to its existing infrastructure at the site, where would the Canadian company would build and operate a pilot plant.

Bromine and bromine-based intermediates are used as building blocks for the production of highly complex molecules and used in many applications, including flame retardants, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, butyl rubber, polymers and biocides.

"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 Lanxess CEO Matthias Zachert.