RELiEF Project Advances Sustainable Lithium Recovery through Innovative Separation Processes

In pursuit of cleaner and more efficient lithium (Li) recovery enabling the valorisation of previously unused sources, the RELiEF project’s Work Package 5 (WP5) focuses on the selective recovery and purification of lithium through innovative separation processes. The WP5 team is dedicated to developing and demonstrating advanced concepts for extracting lithium from leachates generated in prior project phases (WP4) as well as other liquid sources. These processes aim to be not only technologically and economically superior to current industry practices but also more sustainable on socio-economic and environmental fronts. By advancing lithium recovery methods that prioritize efficiency and sustainability, the RELiEF project seeks to set a new benchmark in responsible resource management for the lithium industry.

To establish a foundation, the researchers in WP5 conducted a comprehensive literature review on the existing processes and knowledge and research gaps as well as a chemical characterization of the two liquid wastewaters and the pregnant leachates. Initial batch studies tested several lithium-selective extraction methods, including electrodialysis, electrochemical separation processes, ion-exchange, 3D absorbent printing, and solvent extraction; modelling process was also examined.

• Researchers from NOVA (Portugal) developed an electrodialytic separation process for recovering Li and revealed that the process could selective separate Li (over 97%) from the battery industry wastewater and over 77% from the Al/Li dust leachates.
• The researchers from ULB (Belgium) worked on electrochemical separation processes for the Li selective separation and found out that by combining the hydrometallurgical unit operations (such as solvent extraction and precipitation) along with electrochemical separation processes could result in over 92% of Li (from PEG leachates), 95% of Li (battery wastewater) and 99% of Li (organic wastewater).
• ABEE (Belgium) developed an ion exchange process for the extraction of Li and showed that it successfully separates more than 70% of Li from the tested Li containing resources.
• A team of researchers’ from LUT (Finland) developed solvent extraction processes and 3D printing adsorption processes for the selective extraction of Li. It was observed that the developed solvent extraction system containing a synergistic extractants could selectively extract (more than 91% and 97%) Li from the organic wastewater and battery wastewater, respectively.

Furthermore, an innovative and novel 3D printing adsorbent was also tested by LUT researchers and those studies showed promising results on the synthetic solutions simulating the industrial wastewaters. ABEE (Belgium) also intends to develop models for the above-mentioned unit operations. The development is still on-going.

These efforts highlight a promising alternative resource recovery strategy, with ongoing modelling efforts poised to refine these technologies further. The advances made by RELiEF’s WP5 team signal an important leap toward more sustainable and efficient lithium recovery, addressing a critical need in the shift to cleaner energy.