The Refinement of Lithium Metal
Lithium is the lightest metal ever discovered, with a low density that makes it highly malleable. Sometimes referred to as “white gold,” lithium has a wide range of uses in the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. Although lithium is found in a variety of rocks, it is rarely found in a sufficiently concentrated form that can be economically harvested. This is where the refinement of lithium metal comes into play.
The refining of lithium metal is a complex and expensive process that involves several stages of chemical processing. The development of lithium production technology has evolved over the last few decades, but the basic process remains the same. Mines and suppliers extract lithium from naturally occurring elements, such as spodumene, petalite and garnet. These minerals are then treated with acids that convert them into lithium carbonate.
The lithium carbonate is then treated with sulfuric acid, followed by a precipitation step which separates the lithium hydroxide fromany impurities. Once purified, the lithium hydroxide is then converted back into lithium carbonate, which is further refined into lithium chloride. After further processes, this lithium chloride is then treated with calcium chloride in order to form a hard, dense metal known as metalic lithium.
The refining process to produce metalic lithium has both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, the product has a high degree of purity, with concentrations of up to 99% lithium. On the other hand, the process is energy intensive and costly due to the numerous stages involved. The process of refining lithium metal also releases hazardous oxygen compounds and other contaminants into the atmosphere, which can be damaging to the environment.
Overall, the main advantage of refining lithium metal is that it provides a highly purified form of the metal. In addition, the process has likely improved over time due to advances in technology, which has likely made it more cost-effective and energy efficient. In spite of the environmental implications, lithium metal continues to be a popular choice for many industries due to its light weight and malleability.
