Lithium

Powering the future with high-purity lithium

Lithium is a critical enabler of the energy transition, supporting the rapid growth of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage, and advanced electronics. While lithium is widely distributed in nature, efficient production depends on advanced processing technologies to extract and refine it from key sources such as hard rock minerals and lithium-rich brines.

Technology

Proprietary technology for refining spodumene concentrate

Cost efficiency

Lower capital and operating costs due to streamlined flowsheet and lower reagent usage

Sustainability

Sustainable and safe process as residues are inert and readily neutralized

Soaring demand for lithium

The demand for battery-grade lithium chemicals, typically exceeding 99.5% purity continues to increase as performance and reliability requirements become more stringent. Key end products, including lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, are tailored to different battery chemistries and industrial applications.

Two primary processing routes

Hard rock processing (spodumene and other pegmatites)

Hard rock deposits contain lithium in solid mineral form and are processed through a combination of beneficiation, thermal treatment, and hydrometallurgical refining.

Beneficiation upgrades the ore into a lithium-rich concentrate.
Calcination transforms the mineral into a more reactive phase.
Hydrometallurgical refining leaches, purifies, and crystallizes lithium into high-purity hydroxide or carbonate.

This route enables direct production of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, and benefits from high-grade concentrates and strong recovery potential.

Brine processing (salars and subsurface brines)

Brine resources contain lithium dissolved in saline water and require concentration before refining. Two main approaches are used:

Conventional evaporation route

Brine is pumped into large evaporation ponds.
Solar evaporation gradually increases lithium concentration over extended periods.
Impurities are removed before final refining and crystallization.

This method is well established but can require significant land area, long processing times, and careful control to minimize lithium losses.

Brine processing (salars and subsurface brines)

Delivering efficient and reliable lithium production

Across both processing routes, the integration of beneficiation, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies ensures optimized recovery, consistent product quality, and competitive cost performance. With extensive experience in hard rock, brine, and emerging technologies, Metso supports producers in unlocking the full value of lithium resources and delivering high-purity products to meet the evolving needs of the battery market.