Lithium carbonate recovery process

A process for the recovery of lithium carbonate from a solution containing a mixture of lithium sulfate and lithium hydroxide, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) Precipitation of lithium carbonate from a solution containing lithium sulfate and lithium hydroxide through the addition of carbon dioxide;
• b) Solid liquid separation and optionally washing of the precipitated lithium carbonate to recover a liquor containing lithium sulfate;
• c) Recycle of the liquor to a subsequent step to convert lithium sulfate to lithium hydroxide;
• d) Purification of the lithium carbonate by pulping in water and addition of carbon dioxide to produce lithium bicarbonate solution;
• e) Solid liquid separation of the lithium bicarbonate solution to remove insoluble impurities;
• f) Heating the lithium bicarbonate solution to strip carbon dioxide and re-precipitate lithium carbonate;
• and
• g) Solid liquid separation, drying and packing of the purified lithium carbonate product.