About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Energy Technologies and CO2 Management: Resource Efficient Processes
|
| Presentation Title |
Processing of an Indigenous Spodumene Ore for Lithium Liberation: A Precursor for Industrial Lithium Energy Materials |
| Author(s) |
Alafara Abdullahi Baba, Aishat Y. Abdulkareem |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alafara Abdullahi Baba |
| Abstract Scope |
To date, the global energy transition to renewable sources has expanded the lithium market due to its high electrochemical properties. Thus, this study explores lithium recovery from an underexploited Nigerian spodumene deposit through a low-energy hydrometallurgical route. The ore was initially treated through sodium carbonate roasting, and the calcined product leached in deionized water for the optimization of extraction conditions prior to its beneficiation. The mineralogical characterization confirmed highly crystalline spodumene with admixture of silicate minerals. At a set of experimental aqueous leaching conditions, lithium recovery exceeded 90% using 1:4 g/g ore-to-salt ratio, a 700°C temperature, within 60 minutes. Through precipitation, carbonization and crystallization protocols, the pure lithium-leach liquor was accordingly purified to obtain 99.5% high-grade lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃ : 00-022-1141). The precursor as characterized is recommended for use in battery manufacturing and energy materials in some defined applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Hydrometallurgy, Characterization, Extraction and Processing |