Direct extraction of lithium from ores by electrochemical leaching

Hanrui Zhang, Ying Han, Jianwei Lai, Joseph Wolf, Zhen Lei, Yang Yang and Feifei Shi ()
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Hanrui Zhang: The Pennsylvania State University
Ying Han: The Pennsylvania State University
Jianwei Lai: The Pennsylvania State University
Joseph Wolf: The Pennsylvania State University
Zhen Lei: The Pennsylvania State University
Yang Yang: The Pennsylvania State University
Feifei Shi: The Pennsylvania State University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract With the rapid increase in lithium consumption for electric vehicle applications, its price soared during the past decade. To secure a reliable and cost-effective supply chain, it is critical to unlock alternative lithium extraction resources beyond conventional brine. In this study, we develop an electrochemical method to directly leach lithium from α-phase spodumene. We find the H2O2 promoter can significantly reduce the leaching potential by facilitating the electron transfer and changing the reaction path. Upon leaching, β-phase spodumene shows a typical phase transformation to HAlSi2O6, while leached α-phase remains its original crystal phase with a lattice shrinkage. To demonstrate the scale-up potential of electrochemical leaching, we design a catalyst-modified high-throughput current collector for high loading of suspended spodumene, achieving a leaching current of 18 mA and a leaching efficiency of 92.2%. Electrochemical leaching will revolutionize traditional leaching and recycling processes by minimizing the environmental footprint and energy consumption.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48867-0

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