Recently, the project "Development and Application of Efficient Lithium Extraction Technology and Equipment from Lepidolite," led by Changsha Nonferrous Metallurgy Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation, successfully overcame major technical challenges that have long plagued lithium extraction from lepidolite in China, including equipment corrosion, rotary kiln ring formation, and low recovery rates, achieving large-scale industrial production. This marks a critical step forward in the high-value utilization of China's complex, low-grade lepidolite resources.
According to Chen Yuping, the project's chief designer, lepidolite ore presents smelting challenges such as complex composition, low lithium grade, high impurity content, and particularly high fluorine levels. After years of research, the team pioneered a molten salt displacement roasting technology for lepidolite, fundamentally solving the persistent problems of equipment corrosion and kiln ring formation while significantly improving lithium recovery rates.
Our reporter learned that the team innovatively developed recovery technologies for valuable metals such as potassium and rubidium from leach solutions, achieving cyclic utilization of sulfates and comprehensive recovery of lithium, sodium, potassium, and rubidium. They also developed a full-process impurity removal process for high-purity lithium carbonate, ensuring stable quality of battery-grade products, and devised a carbonation-pyrolysis refining purification method capable of producing high-purity lithium carbonate products. Additionally, the team developed harmless comprehensive utilization technology for lithium slag, effectively alleviating environmental pressure from slag storage, and independently developed intelligent reaction devices for continuous impurity removal and continuous decarbonization, significantly enhancing process automation.
Currently, this technology has been industrially applied and is operating stably in multiple projects, including Jiangxi Yongxing Special Steel, Lingneng Lithium, Fengxin New Era, Yichun Longpan Era, and Jinfeng Lithium. Industry experts believe that this achievement provides a replicable technical paradigm for China's lepidolite lithium extraction industry and holds significant demonstrative value for ensuring the secure supply of resources for the new energy industry chain.