DBS Phase 2 Project

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ChemCentre Supporting the Safe and Sustainable Reuse of Delithiated Beta Spodumene (DBS)

Western Australia is a global leader in lithium production. As the industry grows, so too does the opportunity to find sustainable uses for by-products generated during lithium refining. One such material is delithiated beta spodumene (DBS), a mineral by-product produced during the manufacture of lithium hydroxide.

Building a Circular Economy for Western Australia

ChemCentre is leading a collaborative, science-based program to support government and industry in understanding whether DBS can be safely and responsibly used in infrastructure and construction applications. The work is being undertaken on behalf of the Department of the Department of Energy and Economic Development (DEED) as part of the Lithium Industry Support Program (LISP) and in collaboration with a range of Western Australian government agencies, industry stakeholders and technical experts.

The overall objective is to provide Western Australia with the evidence, guidance and standards required to support informed decision-making regarding DBS, while protecting human health and the environment.

Why This Work Matters

DBS has potential applications in Road construction materials, Manufactured sand, ‘Fill’ and geotechnical applications, supplementary cementitious materials in concrete and other engineered infrastructure products

If appropriate and safe uses can be established, DBS may help reduce reliance on virgin construction materials while supporting resource recovery and circular economy outcomes across Western Australia. However, its use requires robust scientific assessment, risk evaluation and regulatory oversight.

Phase 1: Establishing the Scientific Foundation

The first phase of the program funded by the Department of Water & Environmental regulation (DWER) focused on understanding DBS, identifying risks, engaging stakeholders and developing an evidence-based pathway for future standards development.

Phase 1 was designed to provide government and industry with a practical basis for interim decision-making while identifying key knowledge gaps requiring further research.

Key Activities

Scientific Characterisation

ChemCentre undertook extensive review and analysis of DBS properties, including:

  • Physical and chemical characterisation.
  • Assessment of material variability between sources.
  • Evaluation of constituents of potential concern.
  • Review of leaching behaviour and environmental performance.

 

The work drew upon historical and new data supplied from Western Australian lithium refineries and existing infrastructure trials.

Risk Assessment

Phase 1 included:

  • Human health risk screening
  • Environmental risk assessment
  • Development of conceptual site models
  • Assessment of potential exposure pathways
  • Evaluation of environmental suitability under different use scenarios


This work was used to identify where DBS may be appropriate for consideration and where additional evidence would be required.

Stakeholder Engagement

ChemCentre coordinated extensive engagement with:

  • DWER
  • Department of Health
  • Main Roads Western Australia
  • Department of Energy and Economic Diversification
  • Lithium producers
  • Concrete and construction manufacturers
  • Infrastructure stakeholders


Stakeholder workshops and advisory panels helped identify regulatory requirements, industry needs and practical pathways for implementation.

Interim Guidance Development

A key Phase 1 outcome was development of a framework to support regulatory discussion and interim assessment of DBS applications.

This included:

  • Material classification approaches
  • Application-based use categories
  • Screening criteria
  • Sampling and testing protocols
  • Environmental suitability guidance
  • Traceability and governance requirements


Importantly, Phase 1 did not approve the use of DBS. Instead, it established a scientific framework through which robust evidence can be generated and evaluated to inform future decision-making regarding the use of DBS.  Areas that require further investigation were identified in the Phase 1 work.

Phase 1 Outcomes

Phase 1 delivered:

  • A comprehensive literature review
  • Interim environmental suitability guidance
  • Human health and environmental risk assessment reports
  • Stakeholder engagement records
  • DBS classification approaches
  • Data inventories
  • A long-term standards roadmap and implementation pathway


Together, these outputs provided an integrated evidence base to support future standards development.

Phase 2: Advancing Towards Standards and Implementation

Following the successful completion of Phase 1, the Western Australian Government funded a larger, multi-year Phase 2 research and implementation program, which commenced on 1 July 2026, and which builds directly on the scientific foundation established during Phase 1. 

This phase is funded through the Western Australian Government’s Lithium Industry Support Program.

Purpose of Phase 2

Phase 2 aims to move beyond screening-level assessments and generate the detailed scientific evidence required to support long-term standards, regulatory frameworks and potential infrastructure applications. This will include targeted research activity coordinated by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA).

The program focuses on answering critical questions such as:

  • How does DBS behave in real-world applications?
  • What controls are needed to manage risk?
  • What standards are required for consistent use?
  • Under what circumstances could DBS be safely incorporated into infrastructure materials?

 

Major Research Streams

Theme A: Environmental Assessment

ChemCentre is leading development of:

  • DBS environmental assessment criteria
  • Leaching and attenuation methodologies
  • Comparative assessment of conventional materials
  • Long-term monitoring and evaluation frameworks
  • Product-specific environmental assessment approaches


These activities will help regulators and industry better understand environmental performance under realistic use conditions.

Theme B: Human Health Assessment

Phase 2 includes further work to:

  • Define priority exposure pathways
  • Develop lifecycle risk assessment frameworks
  • Evaluate worker and community exposure scenarios
  • Integrate human health considerations into future standards


This work will build upon the screening and conceptual assessments completed during Phase 1.

Theme C: Product Qualification and Validation

A major focus of Phase 2 is evaluating DBS in specific product and infrastructure applications.

Activities include:

  • Product development and validation
  • Material-specific characterisation
  • Performance testing
  • Development of supplier data sheets
  • Evaluation of product consistency and variability


The program will examine both bound and unbound applications to support evidence-based decision making.

Theme D: Standards Development

ChemCentre is working with government and industry partners to establish a pathway towards long-term standards and specifications.

The objective is to provide:

  • Transparent assessment frameworks
  • Consistent classification approaches
  • Risk-based decision criteria
  • Clear governance arrangements
  • Evidence-based implementation pathways


This work will support future regulatory and policy decisions concerning DBS and other similar industrial by-products.

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