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Extraction of Lithium from β-Spodumene via Ion Exchange in Molten Sodium Salts

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Inorganic Materials Aims and scope

Abstract—

In this paper, we report a process for lithium extraction from spodumene raw materials. We demonstrate that a promising approach for processing spodumene is sintering with sodium acetate. In the reaction between these components, the crystal structure of spodumene remains intact. Ion exchange reaction between CH3СOONa⋅3Н2О and LiAlSi2O6 yields water-soluble sodium acetate and water-insoluble sodium aluminosilicate (NaAlSi2O6). The sodium acetate dissolved in water is converted to lithium carbonate by adding a Na2CO3 solution. The lithium carbonate precipitate is essentially free of foreign impurities. We analyze the effect of process parameters on the degree of Li+ extraction from spodumene.

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Notes

  1. The X-ray diffraction work was performed at the Mendeleev Shared Instrumentation Center as part of the state contract no. 13.TsKP.21.0009.

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This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of High Temperatures Scientific Association (IVTAN), Russian Academy of Sciences, 127412, Moscow, Russia

    R. V. Kulumbegov, L. M. Delitsyn, I. A. Belyaev, N. N. Klimenko, A. B. Tarasenko & O. S. Popel’

  2. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, 125480, Moscow, Russia

    N. N. Klimenko

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  1. R. V. Kulumbegov
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  2. L. M. Delitsyn
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  3. I. A. Belyaev
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Correspondence to L. M. Delitsyn.

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Translated by O. Tsarev

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Kulumbegov, R.V., Delitsyn, L.M., Belyaev, I.A. et al. Extraction of Lithium from β-Spodumene via Ion Exchange in Molten Sodium Salts. Inorg Mater 59, 912–917 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168523080095

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