After the copper and iron miners and other gold prospectors… here comes the time of the lithium hunters. With its Z-9 Liquidator, the American SciAps, a specialized manufacturer of portable analysis devices, promises to help adventurers in the search for the precious white alkali metal. There are always more of them. Driven by the boom in demand for electromobility, the global budget devoted to this quest for lithium jumped by 77% between 2022 and 2023 according to S&P Global, much more than for rare earths (55%), nickel (19% ) and copper (12%).
Made up of a platform into which a gun-shaped analyzer (the Z-903) slides, the equipment saves time compared to analyzes carried out in the laboratory. “Compared to ICP (inductively coupled plasma spectrometry) equipment, the Z-9 Liquidator provides results in seconds. It is the first device to use Libs technology (laser-induced plasma spectroscopy) on the market. Its process is very simple for the analysis of lithium brines or any other element present in aqueous solutions.», argues Alain Gec, the commercial director of Quantum RX, its exclusive distributor for France.
Portable analyzer in brines
In addition, its small footprint and weight of 9 kg make it a versatile, easy to transport field device for both on-site and factory applications. Intended for the needs of mineral and geological exploration, the device is also delivered with a specific calibration of lithium in brines. The exploitation of partly dried salt lakes such as those of the Andes and Tibet is one of the two main sources of lithium production in the world along with the exploitation of lithiniferous rock deposits.
Concretely, the Z-9 Liquidator analysis technique tests brine samples of 1 to 2 ml, without the need for dilution. The platform nebulizes them before being directly analyzed by the Z-903. Five seconds are enough to display the lithium concentration on the PC or tablet screen. This is the result of its collaboration with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso in Chile, whose equipment was developed as part of work carried out with the industrialist Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM). Created in 2013, SciAps is expected to exceed $100 million in revenue this year. The company, whose headquarters is located in Boston (United States), indicates that it reinvests 70% of its profits in R&D.
FEATURES
Poids total : 9kg
Dimensions : 23 x 28 x 40 cm
Power supply: Mains or battery
COMPETITORS
HITACHI Japon
JENOPTIK Germany
OXFORD INSTRUMENTS
United Kingdom
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC United States
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
