Lithium production

Whereas new appHcations of lithium compounds were developed, commercial growth was slow. In 1953 worldwide sales of lithium products, expressed as lithium carbonate, were only ca 1000 metric tons (2). In 1954 the U.S. lithium industry underwent a sudden, very large expansion when the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission required large amounts of lithium hydroxide [1310-65-2] for its nuclear weapons program (see Nuclearreactors). Three domestic producers built 4500-t/yr plants to meet contract commitments with the U.S. government. When these government contracts ended in 1960, capacity exceeded demand and several operations were discontinued. 

Occurrence. Numerous brines contain lithium in minor concentrations. Commercially valuable natural brines are located at Silver Peak, Nevada (400 ppm) (40,41), and at Seades Lake, California (50 ppm) (42,43). Great Salt Lake brine contains 40 ppm and is a source not yet exploited. Seawater contains less than 0.2 ppm. Lithium production started at Silver Peak in the 1970s. The concentration of lithium in the brine is diminishing, and now the principal production occurs from brine in the Salar de Atacama, Chile. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. In 1976, one-third of the lithium produced in the United States was extracted from brines of Seades Lake and Silver Peak (44,45). Since then, lithium production at Seades Lake has been discontinued and the lithium concentration at Silver Peak is decreasing. During the 1980s lithium extraction was started at the Salar de Atacama, Chile. This is the largest lithium production plant in the wodd using brine as its raw material. 

New technology and development of brine reserves are increasing each year in the United States and abroad. This affects the uses and price of brine chemicals. For example, development of the Salar de Atacama in Chile in the 1980s as the largest producer of brine lithium in the world has affected lithium production and prices worldwide. Lithium production from Seades Lake brine has been discontinued, and the Silver Peak operation in Nevada is in a slow production decline caused by weaker brine grades. 

Residual mixtures from lithium production cells containing lithium and rust sometimes ignite when left as thin layers exposed to air [2],... 

Lithium oxide(s), 15 134, 141 Lithium perchlorate, 3 417 15 141-142 dessicant, 3 360 in lithium cells, 3 459 Lithium peroxide, 15 142 18 393 Lithium phosphate, 15 142 Lithium-polymer cells, 3 551 in development, 3 43 It Lithium primary cells, 3 459-466 Lithium production, 9 640 Lithium products, sales of, 15 121 Lithium salts, 15 135-136, 142 Lithium secondary cells, 3 549-551 ambient temperature, 3 541-549 economic aspects, 3 551-552 high temperature, 3 549-551 Lithium silicate glass-ceramics, 12 631-632... 

Chemicals Manufacturing Agricultural Chemicals Specialty Chemicals Industrial Chemicals Insecticides Herbicides Polymers Food Ingredients Lithium Products... 

Gelatin is derived from natural pork and beef products and is present in some hthium formulations. Since certain rehgions forbid the consumption of gelatin, knowing that it is present in Eskahth capsules and Eskalith CR and absent in Eskalith tablets (not available in the USA) and Lithobid SR might influence prescribing practices under certain circumstances (415). The same would apply to other lithium products. 

In 2008, the world s largest consumer of lithium minerals and compounds was the United States. The major producer of lithium chemicals worldwide was Chile. Other countries involved in lithium production included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Portugal, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Specific information on U.S. production was not released in order to preserve trade secrets. 

Blocks. The synthesis of block copolymers were attempted in the following manner. "Living" polystyrene was first prepared by conventional anionic techniques using n-BuLi as the initiator in THF at -78 C. In initial experiments, this polystyryl lithium product was treated with AICI3 to afford a polystyryl A1 species which could be capable of alkylating Ti(0Bu)4. However, we find it to... 

Worldwide lithium production is about 12,500 metric tons per year. With increasing demand for lightweight batteries and power sources that do not depend on fossil fuels, the use of lithium will almost certainly continue to grow. 

Toxco, Inc. has developed processes to recover lithium as lithium carbonate from lithium batteries and other types of lithium-containing wastes [30]. As much as 98% of the available lithium can be recovered, along with a similar fraction of the available cobalt (Co) and much of the aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni). The lithium carbonate can be returned to lithium production and Pacific Lithium, Ltd. has done this. More recently, Toxco has acquired facilities to convert the lithium carbonate back into electrolyte salts for lithium batteries. Clearly, it is feasible and profitable to recycle the cobalt cathode and lithium components of these batteries. 

Deberitz j (1993) Lithium Production and Application of a Fascinating and Versatile Element. 

Lithium extraction takes place mainly in North and South America from rocks and brines associated with volcanic activity and aridity. Most of the world s lithium is used in the production of lightweight metal alloys, glass, lubrication greases, and electrical batteries. Only a small proportion of lithium production (less than 1% of the total) is used in medicine. 

Composition of Lil dissociation products in atmospheric-pressure thermal plasma is shown in Fig. 7-40. The initial concentration of Lil is 7.47 mol/kg. Lithium formation takes place at temperatures exceeding 2500 K. The energy cost of lithium production from iodide is shown inFig. 7 1. The minimal energy cost is 7.44 eV/atom in the case of absolute quenching, and 7.35 eV/atom in the case of ideal quenching, which can be achieved at a specific energy input of 6.7 eV/mol. 

Figure 7-41. Lithium production by direct decomposition of its iodide (Lil) in atmospheric-pressure thermal plasma. Energy cost of the process at different quenching modes (1) absolute quenching (2) ideal quenching.

The lithiation of condensation polymers with the aid of n-butyUithium has also been reported [61], Poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenyl ether) was metallated to give both the ring and the alkyl group lithium product depending on the duration and temperature of the reaction (Scheme 1.3). 

Since the ability to recycle lithium products determines the possible amount of secondary raw material available, it is necessary to analyze how and to what extent recycling (40% or 80%) influences the future availability of lithium. 

Batteries contain toxic and hazardous substances that must be properly disposed of. Furthermore, battery recycling allows recovering such precious metals as lithium and cobalt. Moreover, specialists predict that the request for lithium may overcome lithium production relatively soon, due to growing demand for lithium batteries. For this reason, the price of lithium might considerably increase and battery recycling may become a remarkable secondary lithium source [6]. As shown in Table 23.7, the price of Li2C03 is expected to grow remarkably in the future, at variance with the trend of metals used for positive electrodes. 

The annual production of sodium is around 100,0001. The world capacity for lithium production is 25,000 t per year, while 20,000 t of calcium is produced annually. 

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