Compositional determination and lithium recovery from a mica-type clay: Taming Li2CO3 production to aid environmental remediation

Abstract

A process for producing high-quality Li2CO3 from Li-containing clay minerals is developed. It relies on chemical digestion in acidic media and exhibits an overall lithium recovery efficiency of 70%. These results are supported by the proper characterization of Li-containing clay both before and after acidification, using XRD combined with structural refinement. The characterization strategy, although all the implicated limitations for a direct and quantitative analysis of lithium concentrations, is reliable in determining whether a mineral contains lithium or not, and it follows from a correct compositional determination. Other similar processing routes have been explored with the potential for higher efficiency.