This recent milestone is the final stage of the conventional process ahead of conversion into battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM).

E3's direct lithium extraction process uses concentrate that is generated from brines at the Clearwater project.

Additionally, the company has brought on a "major lithium refining technology and equipment vendor" to aid in the creation of downstream lithium production processes ahead of a prefeasibility study.

"The testing was conducted to treat a sample of concentrate, or eluate, produced by DLE technology," the company said. "The test program has successfully progressed through the coarse purification and concentration phases, and the eluate has been converted into lithium carbonate."

E3 and the vendor will now work towards the final steps, including downstream polishing to reach the desired purity and conversion into battery-grade LHM.

"Producing high-quality carbonate from our Leduc brines with a major equipment vendor is an incredibly exciting milestone for the company," said Chris Doornbos, president and chief executive of E3 Lithium. "While downstream lithium refining processes are already commercially operating, demonstrating the success of these processes on E3 Lithium's brine provides more certainty for our commercial processes."

The company has now turned its focus to commissioning its field pilot plant.