Millennial Lithium Corp. (ML: TSX.V) (A3N2: GR: Frankfurt) (MLNLF: OTCQB) ('Millennial' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that it has achieved a significant milestone with the production of lithium carbonate of Battery Grade (BG) purity from the first batch of brine processed through the Company's pilot plant at its Pastos Grandes Project in Salta Province, Argentina.
The pilot plant produced lithium carbonate with a purity of 99.96%. Typical Battery Grade quality lithium carbonate is > 99.5% purity. The brine feedstock was derived from the Company's Production well PGMW17-04 on the Pastos Grandes Salar which was pumped to ponds that concentrate the lithium carbonate by solar evaporation.
Analytical work on the lithium carbonate samples was completed first at the project development park laboratory, with check analyses performed by Kemetco Research Inc. ('Kemetco') of Richmond, B.C. In addition to check chemical analyses Kemetco also conducted physical testing, including Particle Size Determination (PSD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) study for crystal habit determination. The PSD test results indicate the lithium carbonate product has a typical size distribution and is amenable to micronization to meet battery application requirements.
Farhad Abasov, President and CEO, commented 'The Company is very pleased to have reached this significant milestone with our pilot plant producing from the very first run Battery Grade quality lithium carbonate. The analytical results from this first batch indicate Battery Grade lithium carbonate can be produced prior to the CO2 purification stage, and with CO2 purification, we have the potential to produce a superior premium BG lithium carbonate product which may command a price premium. This has been accomplished using a proven flowsheet as outlined in the original plant design in the Company's Feasibility Study. We have also demonstrated that we have the option to produce high quality Technical Grade and Battery-Grade product at lower cost than estimated in the Company's Feasibility Study using the basic processing.'
The process design for Millennial's Pastos Grandes Project incorporates industry standards to produce lithium carbonate which is typically Technical Grade, and then a further lithium bicarbonate purification stage in order to consistently produce very high quality lithium carbonate.
In Millennial's pilot plant, a first stage lithium carbonate (Technical Grade - basic Battery Grade) is produced, which can be further purified by re-crystallization using the addition of CO2 in order to make a lithium bicarbonate solution. This solution is filtered to remove final impurities, heated, the CO2 recovered and lithium carbonate re-crystalized as a consistent battery-quality lithium carbonate. As outlined in the results the Millennial team was successful in producing Battery Grade quality lithium carbonate at the completion of the basic stage and a premium quality Battery Grade at the completion of the purification process.
The impurity levels in the lithium carbonate product are very low and meet the specifications for Battery Grade qualifications from battery manufacturers. Typical impurities in lithium carbonate for battery production include Na, Ca, SO4, K, and B. All these elements showed low values in the lithium carbonate produced in the Pastos Grandes project pilot plant. Kemetco has experience with a wide variety of metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver, vanadium and platinum group metals. Kemetco's clients range from start-up companies developing new technologies to large multinational corporations with proven processes.
Contact:
Tel: (604) 662-8184
Email: info@millenniallithium.com
This news release may contain certain 'Forward-Looking Statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'target, 'plan', 'forecast', 'may', 'schedule' and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, changes in laws, rules and regulations in Argentina which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$, fluctuations in the market for lithium, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in Argentina and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Pastos Grandes Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of Covid-19 pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Pastos Grandes Project. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
MILLENNIAL LITHIUM CORP. 
