Lithium

Lithium applications are central to the production of rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and electronic devices, as well as in ceramics, glass, greases, and metallurgical powders. Producing lithium compounds from solution brines and mineral ores requires precise chemical treatment—where lime, also known as quicklime, plays a crucial role. 

At Lhoist, we supply lime-based products that are indispensable reagents in lithium process flow sheets.  

As an indispensable reagent, lime is used in numerous lithium process flow sheets that treat a variety of raw feed materials, such as:

• Spodumene concentrate, processed either through the acidic roast method (using H₂SO₄) or the alkaline pressure leaching technique (employing Na₂CO₃).
• Brines sourced from lithium salars, geothermal plants, or oil field operations.
• Lithium-enriched clays, micas, and borates.
• Lithium carbonate, typically, technical-grade lithium carbonate.

The typical applications of lime reagents within lithium process flow sheets encompass:

• Impurity removal, including dissolved magnesium, silicon, aluminum, and iron. Removal of such impurities is a prerequisite for subsequent lithium purification stages.
• DLE (direct lithium extraction) pH control, where lime is utilized to maintain the pH within the DLE adsorption or ion exchange process units at an optimal level, thereby maximizing performance efficiency.
• The conversion of lithium carbonate to lithium hydroxide
• Flue gas treatment of HF, HCl, Hg and/or SO₂ generated in high temperature calcination and roasting process steps.