About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Fundamentals of Sustainable Metallurgy and Processing of Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Environmentally Friendly Lithium Recovery from Clays Under Ambient Conditions |
| Author(s) |
Jennifer Maria Navarro Naranjo, Dev Chidambaram |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jennifer Maria Navarro Naranjo |
| Abstract Scope |
Lithium extraction from clay minerals particularly illite and smectite has gained attention amid rising global lithium demand. Traditional methods use concentrated sulfuric acid at high temperatures, leading to high reagent use, energy demands, and environmental impact. This study investigates a room-temperature leaching process using dilute acids to recover lithium from clays. The method aims to lower acid consumption while maintaining efficient extraction. Key parameters, acid type, concentration, solid-to-liquid ratio, and contact time were optimized. Results show that notable lithium recovery is possible under ambient conditions, especially with mechanical activation and short batch cycles. This approach offers a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative that aligns with sustainable lithium supply goals.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under the award number DE-EE00010974. Kristi Danley-Pysh serves as program manager. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Sustainability, Extraction and Processing, Hydrometallurgy |