| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Rare Metal Extraction & Processing
|
| Presentation Title |
Mechanochemical Extraction of Lithium from α-Spodumene at Low Temperatures |
| Author(s) |
Tyler Del Rose, Yuting Li, Long Qi, Ihor Hlova |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Tyler Del Rose |
| Abstract Scope |
Driven by the rapid increase in demand of lithium-ion batteries, global lithium consumption is estimated to have increased 33% between 2020 and 2021 (USGS, 2022). Currently, the industrial standard lithium extraction process consists of a lengthy solar evaporation of poorly concentrated lithium brines, highlighting the need for new highly concentrated, hard-rock lithium extraction methods. Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6), one of the most promising lithium hard-rock candidates, naturally forms in a highly stable α-spodumene phase requiring high temperature (~1100°C) α to β thermal decrepitation that opens up the structure and makes it susceptible to ion-exchange and acid leaching attacks. In this work, we demonstrate combined mechanochemical and hydrometallurgical techniques that extract lithium directly from α-spodumene at reduced temperatures (≤ 100°C).
This work is supported by the Critical Materials Institute, an Energy Innovation Hub founded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Extraction and Processing, |