Process for the recovery of lithium

Abstract

A process is divulged for the recovery of lithium from metallurgic slags comprising the steps of roasting spodumene to convert it from the alpha to the beta variant; reacting the beta variant with sulfuric acid, using a stoichiometric excess of acid; repulping the reaction product with water, forming an acidic slurry; neutralizing the acidic slurry to a pH between 5 and 7, by addition of at least one neutralizing agent; filtrating the neutralized slurry, thereby obtaining a lithium bearing solution and a residue; characterized that, in either one or both of the steps of repulping and neutralizing the acidic slurry, lithium-bearing metallurgic slag is added as neutralization agent. The lithium-bearing metallurgic slag is used to substitute at least part of the classic neutralizing agent. The lithium in the slag is released, and added to the lithium liberated from the spodumene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.