Lithium extraction methods and its application prospects: a review

Abstract

Lithium is the most important raw material for the production of modern electronics and electric vehicles. Today, it is impossible to imagine any mobile device without lithium batteries. The role of lithium in the global economy is only growing. The production of electric vehicles and batteries contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Nevertheless, end-of-life lithium-ion batteries pose a danger to the ecosystem. The article presents technological developments in the field of lithium extraction. The main sources of lithium are pegmatites, continental and geothermal brines, as well as clays, seawater and industrial brines. The main commercial lithium product is lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), which is obtained mainly from the mining, extraction and processing of spodumene ores and saltlake, oilfield brines. The effective role of lithium in addressing important issues such as pollution, climate change and the increasing depletion of natural resources used to produce lithium-ion batteries for these electric vehicles is also discussed.