Valorization of lithium hardrock concentrates into battery raw materials and commodity products.
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| Title: | Valorization of lithium hardrock concentrates into battery raw materials and commodity products. |
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| Authors: | Mowbray, Benjamin A. W. (AUTHOR), Hunt, Camden (AUTHOR), Fuelling, Kalyn M. (AUTHOR), Prawira, Jacqueline (AUTHOR), Jafari, Khashayar (AUTHOR), Strong, Naia (AUTHOR), Chiang, Yet-Ming (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science. 5/28/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6801, p980-984. 5p. |
| Subjects: | Ammonium fluoride, Lithium carbonate, Lithium, Lithium compounds, Aluminum oxide, Mines & mineral resources, Chemical processes, Spodumene |
| Abstract: | The production of lithium chemicals needs to increase to meet rising demand for lithium batteries. Spodumene [LiAl(SiO3)2] is an abundant mineral source of lithium, but its extraction is not cost-competitive with brine resources. Current spodumene-refining methods are energy- and waste-intensive, requiring high-temperature roasting (>1000°C) and chemical leaching. We demonstrate a low-temperature, near-zero-waste process that converts α-spodumene into battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), smelter-grade alumina (Al2O3), and cementitious silica (SiO2). Aqueous ammonium fluoride (NH4F) is used as the reagent to solubilize the mineral feedstock at <100°C in a closed-loop process that regenerates the reagent. Techno-economic analysis indicates that this approach may reduce the cost of producing lithium from α-spodumene by >40% and enable cost parity with brines. Editor's summary: The extraction of elements such as lithium and aluminum can require energy-intensive and complex separation processes that may also require large quantities of hydrofluoric acid. Mowbray et al. developed a series of processes that use aqueous ammonium fluoride to simultaneously extract lithium from concentrated α-spodumene while converting the waste stream silicates into valuable products including silica and alumina (see the Perspective by Lee and Manthiram). The closed-loop nature of the processes enables regeneration of the reagents, thus reducing the overall economic costs and environmental footprint. —Marc S. Lavine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | The production of lithium chemicals needs to increase to meet rising demand for lithium batteries. Spodumene [LiAl(SiO3)2] is an abundant mineral source of lithium, but its extraction is not cost-competitive with brine resources. Current spodumene-refining methods are energy- and waste-intensive, requiring high-temperature roasting (>1000°C) and chemical leaching. We demonstrate a low-temperature, near-zero-waste process that converts α-spodumene into battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), smelter-grade alumina (Al2O3), and cementitious silica (SiO2). Aqueous ammonium fluoride (NH4F) is used as the reagent to solubilize the mineral feedstock at <100°C in a closed-loop process that regenerates the reagent. Techno-economic analysis indicates that this approach may reduce the cost of producing lithium from α-spodumene by >40% and enable cost parity with brines. Editor's summary: The extraction of elements such as lithium and aluminum can require energy-intensive and complex separation processes that may also require large quantities of hydrofluoric acid. Mowbray et al. developed a series of processes that use aqueous ammonium fluoride to simultaneously extract lithium from concentrated α-spodumene while converting the waste stream silicates into valuable products including silica and alumina (see the Perspective by Lee and Manthiram). The closed-loop nature of the processes enables regeneration of the reagents, thus reducing the overall economic costs and environmental footprint. —Marc S. Lavine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00368075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.aec4652 |
