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Minerals
Volume 15
Issue 10
10.3390/min15101073
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Review

A Review on Lithium Extraction Processes from Spodumene and Resource Utilization of the Generated Lithium Slag

by
Yongjie Bu
1,2,*,
Wenxuan Yan
1,2,
Xingxing Deng
3,
Sen Huang
1,2,
Aihui Sun
1,2,
Qingjun Guan
1,2,
Shuang Zhou
1,2,
Wenqing Peng
1,2,
Weijun Wang
1,2,
Peng Ge
4 and
Yue Yang
4
1
School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
2
Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-Utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
3
Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Lithium Resources Comprehensive Utilization and New Lithium Based Materials for Advanced Battery Technology, Chengdu 610041, China
4
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101073 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 15 September 2025 / Revised: 3 October 2025 / Accepted: 10 October 2025 / Published: 14 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 7th International Conference of Young Scholars in Mineral Processing)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The booming new energy industry has fueled a surge in global lithium demand, with the annual demand for lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) equivalent (LCE) projected to reach 11.2 million tons by 2050. As a key raw material for lithium extraction, spodumene generates approximately 10–15 tons of lithium slag per ton of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) produced. However, the comprehensive utilization rate of lithium slag in China remains below 30%, and most of it is disposed of through landfilling, posing soil pollution risks. This review summarizes the main lithium extraction processes from spodumene: the sulfuric acid method (with a lithium recovery rate of over 96% but high acid consumption); alkali processes (achieving 96%–99% lithium recovery and featuring low equipment corrosion, yet with untested applicability to low-grade ores); salt roasting (simplifying purification processes but only achieving ~60% sulfate recovery); and chlorination roasting (with a lithium recovery rate of over 95% but requiring strict safety controls). Additionally, this review covers the resource utilization of lithium slag: 8–10 million tons of gypsum can be recovered annually (filling 16%–20% of China’s industrial by-product gypsum supply gap); the silica–alumina micro-powder can enhance concrete strength and reduce glass fiber production costs; and over 94% of tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb) can be recovered from fine tantalite concentrate slag. Key research gaps and future development directions are also identified to support the low-carbon development of the lithium industry.
Keywords: lithium; lithium extraction process; lithium slag; resource utilization; physicochemical properties lithium; lithium extraction process; lithium slag; resource utilization; physicochemical properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bu, Y.; Yan, W.; Deng, X.; Huang, S.; Sun, A.; Guan, Q.; Zhou, S.; Peng, W.; Wang, W.; Ge, P.; et al. A Review on Lithium Extraction Processes from Spodumene and Resource Utilization of the Generated Lithium Slag. Minerals 2025, 15, 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101073

AMA Style

Bu Y, Yan W, Deng X, Huang S, Sun A, Guan Q, Zhou S, Peng W, Wang W, Ge P, et al. A Review on Lithium Extraction Processes from Spodumene and Resource Utilization of the Generated Lithium Slag. Minerals. 2025; 15(10):1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101073

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bu, Yongjie, Wenxuan Yan, Xingxing Deng, Sen Huang, Aihui Sun, Qingjun Guan, Shuang Zhou, Wenqing Peng, Weijun Wang, Peng Ge, and et al. 2025. "A Review on Lithium Extraction Processes from Spodumene and Resource Utilization of the Generated Lithium Slag" Minerals 15, no. 10: 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101073

APA Style

Bu, Y., Yan, W., Deng, X., Huang, S., Sun, A., Guan, Q., Zhou, S., Peng, W., Wang, W., Ge, P., & Yang, Y. (2025). A Review on Lithium Extraction Processes from Spodumene and Resource Utilization of the Generated Lithium Slag. Minerals, 15(10), 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101073

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