Abstract: Lithium chloride containing small amounts of inorganic and/or organic impurities is purified by heating the lithium chloride above about 200.degree. C., cooling the compound to ambient temperatures and extracting it with isopropanol, separating the liquid and solid phases, removing the isopropanol and recovering lithium chloride of high purity.

Abstract: Highly pure lithium chloride suitable for use in production of lithium metal by electrolysis is obtained directly from impure natural or other lithium chloride brines by an integrated process in which the brine is first concentrated by solar energy to a lithium chloride concentration of about 3%, after which the brine is treated with lime and calcium chloride to convert such impurities as boron, magnesium and sulfate to a calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate, respectively, and separating the precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from the brine. The brine is then further concentrated to 40% or more lithium chloride by means of solar or other energy, during which concentration step the calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate precipitate from the brine. The highly concentrated brine is subjected to evaporation at a temperature above 101.degree. C. to produce anhydrous lithium chloride which is further heated to a temperature of 200.degree.

Abstract: Lithium sulfide in the form of a finely divided, free-flowing powder of high purity is produced by reacting lithium carbonate powder in which the diameter of the particles is in the range of 1 to 10 microns with hydrogen sulfide at 500.degree. to 700.degree. C. Initial contact of the lithium carbonate with hydrogen sulfide takes place at a temperature substantially below the sintering temperature of lithium carbonate which is approximately 300.degree. to 400.degree. C.