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Classroom example E3 Lithium

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The question

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How it works

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Who does this work

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Ways in

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For you

About E3 Lithium

For you

Sources

How do you separate something valuable from a complex liquid?

E3 Lithium · Calgary-based company. Clearwater project between Calgary and Red Deer.

Graphic-novel illustration of a process engineer comparing a flow diagram with two test columns on a laboratory separation rig.

Where it fits

Pick your class
  • Chemistry 20 · Solutions and quantitative chemical change
  • Chemistry 30 · Electrochemistry, as a wider battery connection only

How it works

Schematic · not to scale

From mixture to material

A conceptual process flow: mixed brine enters a separation stage; a lithium-rich stream continues to purification and conversion while other material follows a separate outlet. Test results feed back into design. The diagram does not specify E3’s equipment or measured recovery.

  1. Mixed brine contains lithium alongside other substances.

  2. Separation recovers a lithium-rich stream.

  3. Purify and convert toward battery-grade material.

  4. Manage the remaining material in a separate stream.

The return arrow shows test results informing design. Compare recovery, purity, water and energy. The dots represent a conceptual mixture, not particular chemical species or measured amounts.

The lesson, in the real world

A separation has to recover the useful material, reach the right purity and work beyond a small test.

Project stage: Development and scale-up. The planned commercial facility is not operating yet.

  1. 1

    E3’s Clearwater project targets lithium dissolved in underground brine in Alberta.

  2. 2

    Extraction and downstream treatment separate and purify the material. E3’s process role names membrane treatment, ion exchange and crystallization among the methods it evaluates.

  3. 3

    Engineers and operators use models, operating readings and demonstration tests to inform equipment and process design.

  4. 4

    Compare recovery and purity alongside water, energy and reliable operation. A demonstration result does not by itself show that a commercial plant is operating.

    Our explanation
Source: E3 Lithium: company and Clearwater project(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Intermediate Process Engineer(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Shift Operator(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Clearwater status update, 29 September 2026(opens in a new tab)

Who does this work

All roles in this example

Role

Process and plant operations

Keep processing equipment running safely and learn from its measurements.

Employer posting · demonstration operationsGeneral explanation, written by usSource: E3 Lithium: Shift Operator(opens in a new tab)

Operators put a process into practice. They inspect equipment, record operating conditions and work with engineers and maintenance teams when results differ from what was expected.

What might you actually do?

  • Monitor the process

    Take readings and inspect equipment for signs of unusual behaviour.

  • Keep useful records

    Document conditions and events so results can be compared across shifts and tests.

  • Troubleshoot safely

    Report problems, support maintenance and help with commissioning or start-up work.

Typical of this kind of work in general. Not a description of any one person’s job at E3 Lithium.

Often works with
Process engineersMaintenance techniciansLaboratory staffSafety teams
Classroom connection
A separation method must work repeatedly. Careful measurements help explain why performance changes between trials.

Related job postings

Similar work at other employers in Calgary, AB, not openings at E3 Lithium. These are live searches: results change daily and we have not checked them.

Saved job examples

How employers have described this kind of work, saved on the date shown. Employers have not reviewed or endorsed this page.

  • Shift OperatorE3 Lithium · Demonstration facility east of Olds and Didsbury, Alberta; not a Calgary worksite.Accepting applications
    Employer posting · saved 29 Sep 2026

    Shift Operator

    E3 Lithium

    The lithium-extraction company in this classroom example.

    Source: E3 Lithium: Shift Operator(opens in a new tab)
    Location
    Demonstration facility east of Olds and Didsbury, Alberta; not a Calgary worksite.
    Work arrangement
    Shift-based field and plant operations; the posting describes a 24-hour demonstration facility.
    Experience
    Experienced operations role; relevant field or plant experience is requested.

    Operate and monitor the equipment used to demonstrate lithium processing.

    The work, in our words

    • Inspect equipment, take readings, and record operating data.
    • Identify and report process or equipment problems, and help troubleshoot them safely.
    • Support maintenance, commissioning, and start-up work.

    Skills the posting asks for

    Process monitoring · Mechanical troubleshooting · Operational record keeping · Field safety

    Classroom connection

    Shows the hands-on work needed to keep a separation process running and collect evidence about its performance.

    What this example establishes: The commercial plant is a future destination in this posting, not an operating facility. A transition to a future job is not guaranteed.

    Accepting applications when checked 29 Sep 2026

    Linked from current employer careers page; PDF invites applications by email. No email was sent.

    Original posting(opens in a new tab)

How to prepare

  • Chemical Engineering Technology

    SAIT

  • Power Engineering Technology

    SAIT

See all pathways

Ways in

For your students

Ways to prepare for this work

Programs that teach skills this work uses. Each is one route in, not a requirement, and no program has endorsed this page.

Showing routes for process and plant operations. Show all

  • SAITTwo-year diplomaCalgary

    Chemical Engineering Technology

    Practical work in unit operations, process simulation, equipment design and safe operation of processing units.

    About this route

    A technology diploma is a distinct route from an engineering degree; it does not replace a posting’s engineering-degree requirement.

    Official program page(opens in a new tab)

    Why it connects to the work · our interpretation

    Process and plant operations

    Equipment operation and troubleshooting connect directly to monitoring and improving a process.

  • SAITTwo-year diplomaCalgary

    Power Engineering Technology

    Thermodynamics, safe plant operation and practical work with equipment such as pumps, compressors and boilers.

    About this route

    Prepares students for ABSA certification exams. Power engineering certification is distinct from a professional engineering degree and is not claimed as an E3 requirement.

    Official program page(opens in a new tab)

    Why it connects to the work · our interpretation

    Process and plant operations

    Training with energy and process equipment develops skills relevant to plant operation and monitoring.

Ask the class

Use it in class

Ask the class

If two separation methods recover different amounts of lithium but use different amounts of water and energy, what would you need to compare before choosing one?

Separating a useful substance is only part of the challenge. A process also has to work repeatedly, at a useful scale, with acceptable resource use and cost.

Mindset it shows

Optimize across competing constraints rather than one number.

About E3 Lithium

Developing a route from Alberta brine to battery-grade lithium carbonate.

Local connection
Clearwater lies between Calgary and Red Deer. The operator job example is for the demonstration facility east of Olds and Didsbury; the engineering posting is based in Calgary.
Source: E3 Lithium: company and Clearwater project(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Shift Operator(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Intermediate Process Engineer(opens in a new tab)
Team size
Not verified. We have not found a dated, sourced figure.
The problem
Lithium is dissolved in underground brine alongside other substances. Producing a battery material requires extraction, purification and conversion, with a process that can work at larger scale.
Source: E3 Lithium: company and Clearwater project(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Intermediate Process Engineer(opens in a new tab)
What they do
A planned supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate from Alberta brine. This is a development project, not an operating commercial plant.
Source: E3 Lithium: Clearwater status update, 29 September 2026(opens in a new tab)
Who uses it
Prospective battery-material customers. E3 reports discussions and non-binding agreements with potential supply partners; these are not completed sales.
Source: E3 Lithium: Clearwater status update, 29 September 2026(opens in a new tab)

E3 Lithium is developing the Clearwater lithium project in Alberta. It is using demonstration operations and engineering studies to develop a commercial facility.

Source: E3 Lithium: company and Clearwater project(opens in a new tab); E3 Lithium: Clearwater status update, 29 September 2026(opens in a new tab)
Company website(opens in a new tab)Careers page(opens in a new tab)
Who does this work

Read each source’s date and scope: a documented role is not proof of a current vacancy or of where every position is based.

Reported as E3 Lithium states it. E3 Lithium has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Sources and course fit

Sources checked 24–29 Sep 2026

Where it fits

  • Chemistry 20 · Solutions and quantitative chemical change
  • Chemistry 30 · Electrochemistry, as a wider battery connection only

Editorial mapping to published CBE course topics. Pending educator review. No outcome-code alignment is claimed.

Organization claims are reported as the organization states them. E3 Lithium has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

What we know, and how
TypeClaimHow we know
workDeveloping direct lithium extraction from brine.Source: E3 Lithium; Process role description (PDF)Company-stated
statusThe commercial facility is planned, not operating.Source: Process role description (PDF)Not yet operating
rolesA water process engineer / process chemist was sought.Source: Process role description (PDF)Employer posting · not proof it’s filled
pathwaysChemical engineering or process chemistry degree, plus experience.Source: Process role description (PDF)Employer requirement
pathwaysDirector’s chemistry and chemical engineering degrees.Source: Management biographiesOne actual route
course fitChemistry 20 solutions. Chemistry 30 battery context only.Source: CBE Chemistry 20–30 topicsEditorial · pending review

Solid green: the organization states it. Outlined: seen in a dated source. Dashed: our interpretation, not yet researched, or announced but not yet real.