Recovery of lithium from ores and brines

Abstract

Due to its different properties (low electrode potential and specific heat capacity), lithium is widely used in many industries (battery, ceramic and glass industry, lubricating greases, polymer, metallurgy, air treatment). In recent years, due to the developing technology, the demand for lithium has increased with its use in new fields (electric vehicles, grid storage). Therefore, lithium has been included in the critical raw materials list by the European Union Commission. Lithium production is mostly carried out from brines and ores (i.e. such as spodumen, lepidolite, zinvaldite, ambligonite, pedalite). Also, in resent years, it is produced from secondary sources such as lithium ion batteries. Lithium recovery from ores or concentrates such as spodumen is commonly accomplished by the sulfuric acid/roasting process. In this study, the importance of lithium as a critical raw material, resource potential of lithium in the world and Turkey, and industrial processes for production of lithium from ores/brines are reviewed in detail. Previous studies on the recovery of lithium from ores and brines are discussed. In addition, process flowsheets of various industrial plants for the recovery of lityum in the world are presented.