The collaboration will see the firms "share data and jointly develop and commercialise integrated lithium brine processing flowsheets for Standard Lithium's exclusive use in the Smackover Formation," the statement noted.

One of the first innovations the duo will expedite is the proprietary KTS Li-ProLithium Selective Sorption (LSS) technology. KTS has also been tapped to provide firm performance guarantees for the deployment and operation of the technology at high levels of commercial lithium extraction.

"The performance guarantees for the KTS Li-Pro technology license will provide significant risk reduction for Standard Lithium and its shareholders; the partnership will help accelerate the company's first project to commercial reality; and the exclusivity will allow us to benefit from a second Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology that works with Smackover Formation brines in addition to our own proprietary LiSTR technology,' said Dr. Andy Robinson, president and chief operation office at Standard Lithium.

With a portfolio of US-based properties, Standard wants to position itself as a leader in domestic lithium production. In late 2022, the company began testing KTS Li-Pro LSS technology in conjunction with the LiSTR technology at the pre-commercial DLE demonstration plant in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Some of the highlights from the testwork include the processing of more than 1.4 million gallons of Smackover brine and over 4,600 cycles of lithium loading and elution.

Additionally, the testing also produced "high-purity lithium eluates that have been further concentrated and purified using the integrated operations at the demonstration plant."

"Standard Lithium has done an excellent job positioning itself as a first mover supporting broader domestic energy through the application of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, and KTS is excited to be a part of this significant opportunity," said Adam Sackett, president of KTS.