Abstract: A process for producing a purified aqueous lithium (sulfate) solution including: processing a lithium-containing raw material to produce a crude aqueous solution containing lithium sulfate; contacting the crude solution with an organic medium, in an extraction step to produce a lithium-loaded organic medium and a raffinate; stripping said lithium-loaded organic medium by means of an aqueous acid stripping solution (e.g., sulfuric acid), to extract the lithium cations from the lithium-loaded medium, to produce: the purified aqueous lithium (sulfate) solution and a stripped organic medium; separating the purified lithium solution from the stripped organic medium; recycling the stripped organic medium to the extraction step, the organic medium including the stripped organic medium; subjecting the raffinate to electrolysis to produce: an alkali (sodium) hydroxide solution contaminated with lithium and a sulfuric acid stream; and recycling the alkali hydroxide and sulfuric acid streams for use within the process.