Lithium Extraction Technologies

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The producers excavate and discard waste rock (known as overburden) to reveal rock containg lithium. The lithium-bearing rock is then extracted, crushed, milled, and treated to generate a lithium concentrate along with a separate stream of tailings. These tailings need to be stored in a designated facility. These mining operations are characterized by high energy consumption and result in land disruption due to waste dumps, open pits, and tailings ponds. All of these land disruptions are remediated back to an original state once the mining is finished.

"Salar" refers to a type of salt flat or salt lake found in arid or semi-arid regions. These geological formations are characterized by a thick crust of salt deposits covering the surface, often resulting from the evaporation of water from ancient lakes or seas. Salar formations are commonly composed of various salts, including sodium chloride (table salt), as well as other minerals such as potassium, lithium, and magnesium. Some well-known salars include the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the largest salt flat in the world, and the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States. Salars are of particular interest due to their rich mineral content, with lithium being a valuable resource extracted from certain salars for use in batteries and other applications.

DLE ion-exchange technology employs a specially formulated sorbent that exhibits exceptional selectivity towards lithium ions. This innovative process rapidly and effectively transforms substantial quantities of low-grade brine into a concentrated lithium product of superior quality, while simultaneously eliminating almost all impurities. Consequently, this technology yields an exceptionally pure output suitable for the production of high-grade lithium compounds utilized in the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries. 

Spray drying is a process used to concentrate lithium brine by converting it into a dry and concentrated powder form. The lithium brine is atomized into small droplets, which are then exposed to hot air or gas in a spray dryer. The heat causes the water in the droplets to rapidly evaporate, leaving behind concentrated lithium solids. The dried lithium particles are collected, separated from the air or gas stream, and further processed as needed. Spray drying offers advantages such as fast evaporation, high efficiency, and control over particle size, making it a popular method for concentrating lithium brine into a usable form.