Valorization of lithium hardrock concentrates into battery raw materials and commodity products
Abstract
The production of lithium chemicals needs to increase to meet rising demand for lithium batteries. Spodumene [LiAl(SiO 3 ) 2 ] is an abundant mineral source of lithium, but its extraction is not cost-competitive with brine resources. Current spodumene-refining methods are energy- and waste-intensive, requiring high-temperature roasting (>1000°C) and chemical leaching. We demonstrate a low-temperature, near-zero-waste process that converts α-spodumene into battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ), smelter-grade alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), and cementitious silica (SiO 2 ). Aqueous ammonium fluoride (NH 4 F) is used as the reagent to solubilize the mineral feedstock at 40% and enable cost parity with brines.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Extraction and Separation Processes
Molten salt chemistry and electrochemical processes
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Science
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Volume
- 392
- Issue
- 6801
- Pages
- 980–984
- Publication date
- 28 May 2026
- Language
- EN