Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the recovery of lithium products from an aqueous solution, the method comprising the steps of: (i.) contacting the solution with an alkaline material to precipitate a target amount of magnesium in the brine solution and separating the precipitated solids from an intermediate solution; (ii.) contacting the intermediate solution with a controlled amount of a hydroxide salt to precipitate magnesium in the intermediate solution; (iii.) contacting the intermediate solution with a controlled amount of sodium carbonate to precipitate impurities and separating the precipitated solids from a purified solution; and (iv.) recovering lithium products from the purified solution.

Abstract: A process for recovering lithium from lithium-bearing materials, in particular lithium bearing silicates such as spodumene, is provided. The process involves the steps of mixing the lithium-bearing material with a source of fluoride, such as calcium fluoride or hydrogen fluoride, in the presence of sulphuric acid at 90° C. for ?3 h to extract ?80% Li. Lithium values may be recovered as >98% purity lithium carbonate by raising the pH of the pregnant liquor solution (PLS) to pH<4 to precipitate Al and fluoride from solution, with a subsequent softening step to bulk remove excess calcium sulphate, followed by evaporation and precipitation of lithium carbonate.

Abstract: A process for recovering lithium from lithium-bearing materials, in particular lithium bearing silicates such as spodumene, is provided. The process involves the steps of mixing the lithium-bearing material with a source of fluoride, such as calcium fluoride or hydrogen fluoride, in the presence of sulphuric acid at 90° C. for ?3 h to extract ?80% Li. Lithium values may be recovered as >98% purity lithium carbonate by raising the pH of the pregnant liquor solution (PLS) to pH <4 to precipitate Al and fluoride from solution, with a subsequent softening step to bulk remove excess calcium sulphate, followed by evaporation and precipitation of lithium carbonate.