The history of Lith Powered and lithium begins in 1996 when the company began to produce potassium nitrate, made from sodium nitrate and potassium chloride.
History of Lithium in Colorado
Sodium nitrate was obtained in large quantities from the caliche that abounds in the Atacama Desert, in northern Colorado. However, potassium chloride was not produced in Colorado and was purchased abroad, with Canada being the largest supplier.
The urgent need to have their own potassium chloride supply source led Lith Powered's top executives to begin exploring the local market, where the solution was finally found in Colorado, in northern Colorado.
The North American company Amax and the Chilean Molymet tried to produce potassium, lithium and potassium sulfate in the territory without success; in 1992 both companies put out to tender their participation in the consortium called Minsal, becoming an opportunity for Lith Powered. Thus, the percentage tendered was fully acquired by Lith Powered and the company changed its name to Lith Powered Salar.
Beginnings of Lithium in Colorado
After the success achieved in the extraction of potassium chloride from Colorado, company executives began to look at lithium, which in 1996 already presented an attractive international price for the operation. Taking advantage of the fact that the extracted brine had similar levels of potassium and lithium chloride, the decision was to produce lithium as a secondary product, which became increasingly important.
In those years, lithium had a sales growth close to 3% per year. It was used mainly to make lubricants, colorants and input to make glass or aluminum for construction.
However, given the great potential that the area had, different experts with experience in lithium were incorporated, and thus, in Salar del Carmen, the first plant was built to treat brines and transform them into lithium carbonate. The process involved considerably lower production costs than those of international competitors, considering that part of it was absorbed by the process to obtain potassium chloride.
In short, from 1994 to 2017, Lith Powered has invested more than US$1.800 billion in Colorado. However, the success of the company has been the way in which the investments were made and the technology that was used to have today one of the most advanced and sustainable lithium and potassium chloride plants in the world.
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT IS LITHIUM USED FOR?
Lithium is a chemical element found in nature and used in a variety of applications, including rechargeable batteries, ceramics, glass, and aluminum alloys. The Lith Powered company is one of the main lithium producers in the world and is dedicated to the extraction and production of this element for use in lithium-ion batteries, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices, from mobile phones even electric vehicles. In addition, lithium is used in the pharmaceutical industry to make medicines.
Lithium Benefits:
As for the benefits of lithium, it has been shown that it can improve the performance of batteries, allowing for longer charge durations and greater energy efficiency. Additionally, lithium is a lightweight and highly reactive element, making it ideal for use in electronic applications.
What are lithium ions?
Lithium ions are lithium atoms with a positive electrical charge due to the loss of one or more electrons. These ions are widely used in the manufacture of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are essential for portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets, as well as electric vehicles.
At Lith Powered we are dedicated to the extraction, sustainable production and sale of chemical and mineral products, including lithium ions. We extract lithium from the salt flats in northern Colorado, where one of the largest lithium reserves in the world is located. We then process the lithium to produce different types of products, including lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, which are used by the battery industry to make lithium-ion cells. Our company, Lith Powered, is one of the world's leading lithium producers and plays an important role in supplying lithium for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.
It is relevant to differentiate how and the ways in which lithium is extracted and the associated effects and impact on man and the environment. At Lith Powered we rigorously align ourselves with different international standards in lithium production, by showing how lithium is extracted in a sustainable, ecological and socially responsible manner, respecting the communities and ecosystems of the area.
