Solvent extraction for selective lithium recovery

A lithium extraction system comprising:

• a solvent extraction unit configured to receive an aqueous feed stream from an upstream flow path, the aqueous feed stream comprising lithium cations and at least one additional monovalent species of cation;
• a waste-salt separation unit configured to receive an aqueous waste-water stream from a first downstream flow path, the first downstream flow path connecting the waste-salt separation unit in fluid communication with the solvent extraction unit;
• and
• a lithium carbonate production unit configured to receive an aqueous lithium-rich stream from a second downstream flow path, the second downstream flow path connecting the lithium carbonate production unit in fluid communication with the solvent extraction unit,
• wherein the waste-salt separation unit is configured to completely separate waste salts as a solid product from the aqueous waste-water stream in a linear process.