Processes for preparing highly pure lithium carbonate and other highly pure lithium containing compounds

A method of producing highly pure lithium carbonate, the method comprising the steps of:

• feeding a first aqueous solution comprising a purified lithium chloride stream to an electrolyzer equipped with a membrane or a separator, wherein the first aqueous solution has a lithium chloride concentration of up to 40% by weight to form a second aqueous solution comprising at least 10% by weight lithium chloride;
• applying a current to the electrolyzer to produce a third aqueous solution in the cathode compartment that comprises greater than 4 wt % lithium hydroxide;
• optionally cooling the third aqueous solution;
• supplying the third aqueous solution and carbon dioxide to a carbonation reactor to produce a fourth aqueous solution comprising lithium bicarbonate;
• separating the fourth aqueous solution from the carbon dioxide and lithium carbonate solids formed using a gas-liquid-solid reactor;
• filtering the fourth aqueous solution to remove trace impurities;
• and
• feeding the filtered fourth aqueous solution to a precipitation reactor maintained at a temperature of at least about 95° C. to precipitate highly pure lithium carbonate.