This marks the first time lithium hydroxide has been produced at the facility, derived from lithium carbonate sourced from the project’s sedimentary claystone deposit. The milestone reflects a strategic evolution in Century Lithium’s approach, shifting beyond lithium carbonate to include the more technically complex and battery-grade lithium hydroxide—critical for high-nickel battery chemistries like NMC and NCA used in electric vehicles.
The material achieved a purity level above 99.5%, aligning with industry standards for use in energy storage and e-mobility markets. According to the company, this positions Angel Island as one of the few U.S.-based projects capable of supplying multiple lithium formats for varying battery technologies, including LFP and high-nickel variants.
The lithium hydroxide was produced through a conventional liming conversion process at the Amargosa Valley site, using calcium hydroxide to convert lithium carbonate into hydroxide. The carbonate feedstock itself was refined on-site from claystone using Century Lithium’s patent-pending alkaline leach and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.
Senior Vice President of Metallurgy, Todd Fayram, leads ongoing development of a Direct Lithium Conversion (DLC) method that could bypass carbonate production altogether—processing lithium chloride solution directly into hydroxide. If proven effective at scale, the DLC process may lower energy consumption and operational complexity while reducing costs.
This closed-loop production capability sets Angel Island apart from traditional brine and hard-rock operations. It also supports national goals of minimizing reliance on imported materials and scaling up sustainable, domestic supply chains.
Once fully developed, the project is expected to deliver an average of 34,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year over a 40-year mine life, further strengthening U.S. access to battery-grade lithium materials.
