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

A method of producing high purity lithium carbonate, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying a first aqueous solution containing lithium sulfate to an electrochemical cell;
• electrolyzing the first aqueous solution to produce a second aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and a third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide;
• reacting the third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce a fourth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate;
• separating the fourth aqueous solution from the carbon dioxide and lithium carbonate solids;
• filtering the fourth aqueous solution to remove trace impurities;
• feeding the filtered fourth aqueous solution to a precipitation reactor to precipitate highly pure lithium carbonate and a fifth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate;
• and
• supplying the fifth aqueous solution to a reverse osmosis apparatus to produce highly pure lithium carbonate, wherein the reverse osmosis apparatus is operable to remove CO2 from the fifth aqueous solution and cause lithium carbonate to precipitate.