Solvent Extraction in

Lithium Production
Li Standard Process
 The Conventional Process

Evaporation Ponds

[Li]
20-40 gr/L

[Li] [Li]
0.2-1.5 gr/L ~2 gr/L
Ca,Mg,K,Na

wells Spent
Solution
Li2CO3

Li Salar
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4
SOLVENT EXTRACTION Of COPPER
Cu SX
Solvent Extraction of Copper

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Copper: Protonation Mechanism

N Louis Base (2 unpaired electrons)

High affinity to Cu+2 (similar to H-bonds)
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 Li SXTM
Patent in process
?

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LiSXTM

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 Extraction of Lithium

L
i L
L i
i

Organic L
i L L
i i
L
i
L L
L Extraction L
i
i i
i L L
L i i
i

Li
Li
Li

Li
Aqueous
Li Li
Li
Li

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 Stripping of Lithium

Li
Li
Li

Organic Li
Li Li

Li

Li
Li Li Stripping
Li L L Li
i i

L L
Aqueous i L L L L
i
i
L i i L i
i
i

Product

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Lithium: Protonation Mechanism

R-H + Li R-Li + H+

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 Li Extraction Vs. pH

100%
80%
Extraction

60%
40%
20%
0%
6 8 10 12 14
pH
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Extraction Equilibrium Isotherm

Equilibrium Points Equilibrium Curve

1750
Li in solvent (mg/L)

1500
1250
1000
750
500
250 Operating line
0
0 200500 400 1000600 1500
800
Li in aqueous (mg/L)

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Extraction Stage Lab test results
Low lithium feed High lithium feed
O:A(v/v)=0.11 O:A(v/v)=1.14
Element Li Na K Element Li Na K
Units mg/L g/L mg/L Units mg/L g/L mg/L
Feed 230 8 1000 Feed 2100 120 25000
LS 1500 0.24 3> LS 1750 0.375 20
Raffinate 50 8.4 1050 Raffinate 150 121 25500
Final Raf 3> 9 0.975 Final Raf <3 121 23000
Typical lithium feed
O:A(v/v)=0.41
Element Li Na K
Units mg/L g/L mg/L
Feed 720 115 20000
LS 1760 0.32 15
Raffinate 100 120 19000
Final Raf 3> 119.5 19500
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Scrubbing Stage Lab test results
Scrubbing Conditions
O:A volume ratio - 10:1
Cross current
Scrub solution initial stages diluted acid final stages DI water

Stage % Li
mg/L in Solvent mg/L in Aq. Phase
No. purity

Li Na K Li Na K
0 1750 375 12 - - - 81.9
1 1760 70 4 480 4350 350 96.0
2 1700 17 <3 540 960 35 99.0
3 1690 <3 <3 170 130 7 >99.9
4 1700 <3 <3 130 50 <3 >99.9
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Stripping Stage Lab test results

Stripping agent strong mineral acid

Acid concentration depends on lithium solubility
O:A molar ratio - 1:1

Product Strip Solution

Lithium
Stripping Stage
PS BS

Lithium Chloride Lithium Sulfate

Element [Li] [Na] [K] pH Element [Li] [Na] [K] pH18

Units g/L mg/L mg/L Units g/L mg/L mg/L
Value 69 <3 <3 5.2 Value 42 <3 <3 4.8

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LiSXTM Full Solution
NaCl + H2O Na+ + Cl- + H+ +OH-
2H+(aq) + 2e- 2H2(g)
2Cl-(aq) - 2e- 2Cl2(g)

LiPTM

H2SO4
Li2SO4

LiCl + H2O Li+ + Cl- + H+ +OH-

2H+(aq) + 2e- 2H2(g)
2Cl-(aq) - 2e- 2Cl2(g)

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Pre-Treatment-Results
Alkali Earth Removal

Lithium Pretreatment - LiPTM

Element Li Na Ca K Mg
Units mg/L g/L mg/L mg/L mg/L
Feed 412 113 600 3475 2670
Product 403 108 11 3500 63

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Typical Products

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Case Study on a Salar Based Stream

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The LiSX Advantages

The LiSX process is viable for any type of lithium feed stream (salar/
hard rock etc.)
Allows lithium production independent of by-products
Allows high lithium recovery of nearly 100% compared to Old School
45%-65
Can be performed even with low Li concentration in feed stream - less
than 0.5g/L
Does not require elevated temperatures
Reduces residence time at salars from years/month to hours/minutes
Once running, LiSX can be adjusted within hours to produce any
required lithium salt
The LiSX process allows to substantially reduce both CAPEX and
OPEX
The LiSXTM process is green with no environmental impact and weather
independent whether independant
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 What We Offer

Testworks at our R&D facilities

Design & Supply - Technology Package including
engineering and supply of proprietary equipment
A Technology Package with full EPC services