Extraction of Lithium from Naturally Occurring Li -Bearing Minerals

Document Type : Review Article

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Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute

Abstract

Lithium (Li) production in most of advanced countries depends on primary and secondary resources. Primary resources are Li-bearing minerals and brine, while secondary resources are mainly exhausted lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This article focuses on reviewing the research and processes related to Li extraction from different Li-bearing minerals such as spodumene, lepidolite, zinnwaldite, and petalite by different techniques. These techniques include Li extraction by acid process (sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid), Li extraction by alkali process (sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate), Li extraction by salt roasting process (carbonate roasting and sulfate roasting) and Li extraction by chlorination process using chloride salts or chlorine gas. The flow sheets of Li extraction processes from Li-minerals are reported. These flow sheets include but are not limited to pre-treatment of the Li minerals, chemical processing, leaching (mostly in water), and separation of Li pregnant solution from insoluble residues followed by purification and Li precipitation using sodium carbonate.

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