Lithium Extraction and Refining

Energy and cost-optimized processing for battery-grade lithium

Saltworks offers advanced, modular solutions to concentrate, refine and convert (CRC) lithium brines and spodumene leach solutions into battery-grade products.

Battery-Grade Lithium Extraction

Most of the world’s battery-grade lithium is produced by:

  • Lithium brine ponds: concentrating and precipitating impurities from geological lithium brines via evaporation ponds. A highly concentrated lithium solution is subsequently refined and converted into lithium carbonate or hydroxide. These low-cost operations are ideal for the convergence of rich lithium brines and arid climates, such as South America’s ‘lithium triangle.’
  • Hard rock mines: mining, crushing, concentrating and leaching spodumene ores, to produce an impure lithium sulfate or lithium carbonate solution, which is then converted to battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
Photo of an electric vehicle with a lithium ion battery charging

Saltworks supports both of the above extraction processes with advanced water recovery and lithium refining technology systems. Our digitized modular refining systems offer a future-proof plant on a fast track to high lithium yield, low installation costs, and reduced energy consumption.  

To access lithium brines in wet climates and improve lithium recovery, Direct lithium extraction (DLE) is gaining popularity. DLE methods vary, but most produce a lithium chloride solution of 1,000 mg/L containing impurities. Downstream of DLE, Saltworks’ concentrate, refine and convert (CRC) technology processes DLE eluates into battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.

recycle lithium from lithium ion batteries

Lithium Refining Technology Applied

Lithium mining is water mining. Regardless of the source, lithium is processed into battery-grade chemicals by refining a saline solution, concentrating it, and crystalizing or precipitating a lithium salt.

This includes manipulating ions that are critical to lithium processing while maximizing water recovery at the lowest net cost. Saltworks provides lithium refining systems offering high performance, a compact modular package and advanced automation.

Refining Lithium Brines

Our solutions precisely target impurities, concentrate lithium in advanced membrane systems, and selectively precipitate high-quality lithium chemicals.

We offer complete concentrate, refine, convert (CRC) systems or individual unit operations including:

  • BrineRefine removes troublesome ions such as silica, enabling higher recovery processing in membrane systems.
  • XtremeRO & OARO concentrate lithium chloride (LiCl) up to 50% higher than conventional RO.
  • BrineIX performs a high-TDS ion exchange polish for hardness, metals, and boron.
  • LcRx produces battery-grade lithium carbonate in a modular precise single-step lithium carbonation package.
  • CRC-5000 produces high-purity lithium carbonate as part of a complete package.

Learn more about Saltworks’ lithium brine processing systems. 

A simple process flow diagram for lithium processing and refining by Saltworks Technologies
Saltworks' simplified process flow diagram for lithium brine processing

Refining Spodumene Assets

We apply our suite of saline concentration, refining, conversion, and crystallization technologies to produce high-purity lithium chemicals from post spodumene leach solutions:

  • BrineRefine removes silica and multivalent impurities.
  • SaltMaker ChilledCrys purges sodium sulfate from the system
  • SaltMaker MVR produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide while achieving ZLD for wastewater streams using fully automated, self-cleaning forced circulation.
Saltworks' simplifed spodumene lithium processing
Saltworks' simplified process flow diagram for spodumene lithium processing

Work With Lithium Experts

To learn more about Saltworks’ efficient refining of high-quality lithium, download our DLE lithium brochure, and spodumene lithium spec sheet or check out our articles on DLE processing and hard rock processing. 

Contact our experienced team to begin optimizing your lithium project today. 

Learn more about our Lithium Test Centre: in-house mini-refineries, run 24/7 and staffed by Saltworks’ experts.

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Related Resources

A simple process flow diagram for lithium processing and refining by Saltworks Technologies
Infographic

Lithium Process Flow Brochure

This lithium process flow brochure shows how membrane, thermal, and chemical water technologies fit into various stages of lithium production. Learn how to process lithium to battery-grade, downstream of direct lithium extraction.

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