METHOD OF EXTRACTING LITHIUM FROM SPODUMENE ORE Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC C22B26/12 C22B1/06 C01D15/08 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to extraction of lithium from lithium-containing spodumene ore or concentrate. Extraction of lithium includes enrichment of ore and production of concentrate, high-temperature roasting, carried out using organic fuel or natural gas for activation of obtained concentrate, reagent sulphation of the activated concentrate to obtain a solution containing lithium sulphate, precipitation of impurity components from the lithium sulphate solution using alkaline agents, evaporating the purified lithium sulphate solution and precipitating lithium carbonate therefrom to obtain residual sulphate brine. Ammonium bisulphate is used as a sulphation reagent, which is recovered during evaporation of residual sulphate brine with crystallisation of ammonium sulphate and heating of obtained crystals to temperature of 250–400°C. Precipitation of lithium carbonate to obtain residual ammonium sulphate brine is carried out using ammonium carbonate, which is obtained from ammonia formed during recovery of ammonium bisulphate, and carbon dioxide formed in flue gases during high-temperature roasting of spodumene concentrate.

EFFECT: method reduces the amount of consumed reagents and reduces the amount of by-products (wastes).

5 cl, 4 dwg, 3 ex