Lithium Process Chemistry

Resources, Extraction, Batteries, and Recycling

Alexandre Chagnes, Jolanta Swiatowska, Alexandre Chagnes, Jolanta Swiatowska

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780128016862
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Industrial & Technical Chemistry

Lithium Process Chemistry: Resources, Extraction, Batteries and Recycling presents, for the first time, the most recent developments and state-of-the-art of lithium production, lithium-ion batteries, and their recycling.

The book provides fundamental and theoretical knowledge on hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry in lithium-ion batteries, including terminology related to these two fields. It is of particular interest to electrochemists who usually have no knowledge in hydrometallurgy and hydrometallurgists not familiar with electrochemistry applied to Li-ion batteries.

It is also useful for both teachers and students, presenting an overview on Li production, Li-ion battery technologies, and lithium battery recycling processes that is accompanied by numerous graphical presentations of different battery systems and their electrochemical performances. The book represents the first time that hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry on lithium-ion batteries are assembled in one unique source.

• Provides fundamental and theoretical knowledge on hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry in lithium-ion batteries
• Represents the first time that hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry on lithium-ion batteries are assembled in one unique source.
• Ideal for both electrochemists who usually have no knowledge in hydrometallurgy and hydrometallurgists not familiar with electrochemistry applied to Li-ion batteries
• Presents recent developments, as well as challenges in lithium production and lithium-ion battery technologies and their recycling
• Covers examples of Li processes production with schematics, also including numerous graphical presentations of different battery systems and their electrochemical performances

Chapter 1

Global Lithium Resources and Sustainability Issues

Patrice Christmann, Eric Gloaguen, Jean-François Labbé, Jérémie Melleton, and Patrice Piantone BRGM, The French Geological Survey, Orleans, France

Abstract

This chapter provides data and information on the factors underpinning the current lithium demand/supply balance and its long-term evolution from a sustainable development perspective. Many issues outlined in this chapter are also applicable to other rare metals of strategic importance to advanced economies, including for the transition toward a “green,” low-carbon economy. After a warning about the issues related to data availability and reliability, it starts with an analysis of the current lithium demand through a presentation of the main lithium uses and an estimation of the future demand that could result from these uses. It then presents the supply side, by providing information on lithium minerals and carriers (brines), lithium deposit types, and their respective importance, with an estimate of the currently known resources, reserves, and production processes. Indications of capital expenditure and of operating costs related to the main production processes are given. Further on, issues related to Li recycling are discussed. In the concluding part, several factors that will determine the long-term demand/supply balance (2025–2030 and beyond) are discussed, highlighting the need for a mix of policy decisions, governance, and scientific innovations if the objective of a long-term balance is to be met.

Keywords

Circular economy; Criticality; Demand; High-technology metals; Lithium; Rare metals; Recycling; Supply; Sustainable development

1. Data and Information Sources, Related Issues

Lithium has numerous remarkable properties. It has the lightest density of all elements being solid at room temperature (density = 0.53 at 20 °C), the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element, the smallest ionic radius of all the alkali metals, as well as a high electrochemical potential. Its properties, and the properties of its main compounds, such as a lithium carbonate, chloride, or hydroxide are essential to many technologies described in the next section, and especially to “green” low-carbon technologies, especially for the electric vehicles (EVs) batteries, with very important economic and environmental issues at stake. Lithium-related issues are very emblematic to issues related to other rare metals, frequently labeled as “critical” and/or “critical” metals.

There are many information sources on lithium:

• The British Geological Survey,¹ USGS,^2,3 SignumBOX⁴ World Mining Data⁵ provide country level statistics on lithium production;

• SignumBOX and Roskill⁶ are among the leading commercial providers of detailed analyses of the lithium market. Avicenne Energy provides comprehensive market information on the lithium batteries (LIBs) market;

• Mineral exploration and mining companies listed on Western stock markets (Australia, Canada, USA essentially) publish data and information on their activities as well as, quite frequently, market analysis;

• Industrial Minerals (http://www.indmin.com), the industrial minerals industry's monthly magazine and a web-based industry intelligence service, regularly publishes lithium-related news, data, and information.

Lithium markets and production have been covered by a number of recent papers and reports, such as Baylis,^7,8 Labbé and Daw,⁹ COCHILCO,¹⁰ the European Commission,¹¹ Evans,^12–14 Gruber et al.,¹⁵ Kesler et al.,¹⁶ Mohr et al.,¹⁷ Tahil.^18,19

Despite all this available knowledge, a great deal of uncertainty remains about the data on resources, reserves, production, a...