Direct Lithium Extraction Yield Calculator
Forecast lithium carbonate equivalent production for direct lithium extraction projects before committing to scale. Input annual brine throughput, feed concentration, recovery rate, and expected LCE pricing. Optional operating days let you factor in maintenance or commissioning downtime while the output highlights tonnage, per-day production, revenue, and the uplift from improving recovery.
Simplifies chemistry by treating concentration as LCE. Adjust inputs for impurities, reagent losses, and product specifications in your detailed engineering model.
Examples
- 480,000 m³/year, 420 mg/L, 82% recovery, $14,500/tonne, 330 operating days ⇒ With 165.31 tonnes of LCE per year at $14,500.00 per tonne, gross revenue totals $2,397,024.00. The throughput equates to 0.50 tonnes per operating day after adjusting for 330 active days. Every additional recovery percentage point adds 2.02 tonnes annually, so even small efficiency gains compound quickly.
- 95,000 m³/year, 960 mg/L, 68% recovery, $28,000/tonne, operating days blank ⇒ With 62.02 tonnes of LCE per year at $28,000.00 per tonne, gross revenue totals $1,736,448.00. The throughput equates to 0.17 tonnes per operating day after adjusting for 365 active days. Each recovery point is worth 0.91 tonnes of LCE annually at this grade.
FAQ
How do different DLE technologies affect recovery?
Sorbent and ion-exchange systems often achieve 70–85% recovery, while membrane or solvent extraction may start lower. Update the recovery input as your pilot data improves.
Can I compare against evaporation pond yields?
Yes. Enter the same brine volume and concentration with the pond recovery rate to benchmark DLE uplift in tonnage and revenue.
Where should I add capex or opex assumptions?
Track those in a separate cash flow model. This tool isolates gross LCE output so you can plug results into a detailed financial spreadsheet.
How do impurities or Mg/Li ratios affect the estimate?
Adjust the effective concentration downward if impurities force additional polishing steps or reduce usable lithium. Pilot assays help calibrate a realistic feed grade for the calculator.
Additional Information
- Inputs assume lithium concentration is already expressed as lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
- Multiply brine volume by an uptime factor when maintenance or weather reduces annual availability.
- Revenue excludes royalties, power, reagents, and other operating costs—add them separately for full project economics.
- Compare the recovery uplift metric to your pilot plant roadmap to estimate how catalyst or sorbent improvements translate into tonnage.