Extraction Of LiCl From Low-Purity Chlorides Through Solid Electrolyte Towards High-Purity Li₂CO₃ Production.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Lithium carbonate is vital for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
• Current lithium extraction from brines is environmentally taxing.
• Sustainable and efficient extraction methods are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an eco-friendly, ambient-pressure electrolytic process for lithium extraction.
• To produce high-purity lithium carbonate from complex brine sources.
• To explore sustainable methods for LIB material sourcing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a NASICON-type solid-state electrolyte (LATP) for electrolysis at 380°C.
• Employed ZnCl2 as a fluxing agent to lower melting points.
• Integrated purification and carbonation steps for final product isolation.

Main Results:

• Successfully extracted lithium chloride, separating Li+ from other ions.
• Produced high-purity lithium carbonate (98.9%) and zinc hydroxide (>99.9%).
• LATP maintained sufficient ionic conductivity despite color center formation.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrolytic process is a promising, sustainable pathway for lithium extraction.
• This method addresses environmental concerns associated with conventional brine processing.
• Contributes to the advancement of LIB technology through efficient resource recovery.