Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process
The average lithium content in the Earth’s crust is estimated at about 0.007%. Despite this, lithium is considered abundant and widely distributed, with significant extraction from various sources. Notably, the brines in the Salar de Atacama are highlighted for their high lithium concentration ~1800...
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MDPI AG
2024-09-01
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| author | David Torres Kevin Pérez Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Williams H. Leiva Edelmira Gálvez Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez Sandra Gallegos Ingrid Jamett Jonathan Castillo Manuel Saldana Norman Toro |
| author_facet | David Torres Kevin Pérez Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Williams H. Leiva Edelmira Gálvez Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez Sandra Gallegos Ingrid Jamett Jonathan Castillo Manuel Saldana Norman Toro |
| author_sort | David Torres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The average lithium content in the Earth’s crust is estimated at about 0.007%. Despite this, lithium is considered abundant and widely distributed, with significant extraction from various sources. Notably, the brines in the Salar de Atacama are highlighted for their high lithium concentration ~1800 mg/L. Lithium is currently recovered from these brines through a solar evaporation process. The brine is transferred through a series of ponds, increasing the lithium concentration from 0.2% to 6% over 18 months, while decanting other minerals like potassium, magnesium, and boron. This method is the most efficient and cost-effective globally due to the Salar de Atacama’s high lithium concentration of approximately 1800 ppm and the region’s intense solar radiation, which facilitates evaporation at no economic cost. This manuscript describes in detail the lithium and potassium extraction processes used in the Salar de Atacama. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5eda7179c24b43ad9cb69eef037372c3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj-art-5eda7179c24b43ad9cb69eef037372c32025-08-20T02:11:13ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012024-09-011410109510.3390/met14101095Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive ProcessDavid Torres0Kevin Pérez1Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid2Williams H. Leiva3Edelmira Gálvez4Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez5Sandra Gallegos6Ingrid Jamett7Jonathan Castillo8Manuel Saldana9Norman Toro10Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileFacultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4030000, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, ChileAcademic Area of Earth Sciences and Materials, Institute of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Pachuca 42184, MexicoFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileCentro de Economía Circular en Procesos Industriales (CECPI), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería en Metalurgia, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó 1531772, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileThe average lithium content in the Earth’s crust is estimated at about 0.007%. Despite this, lithium is considered abundant and widely distributed, with significant extraction from various sources. Notably, the brines in the Salar de Atacama are highlighted for their high lithium concentration ~1800 mg/L. Lithium is currently recovered from these brines through a solar evaporation process. The brine is transferred through a series of ponds, increasing the lithium concentration from 0.2% to 6% over 18 months, while decanting other minerals like potassium, magnesium, and boron. This method is the most efficient and cost-effective globally due to the Salar de Atacama’s high lithium concentration of approximately 1800 ppm and the region’s intense solar radiation, which facilitates evaporation at no economic cost. This manuscript describes in detail the lithium and potassium extraction processes used in the Salar de Atacama.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/10/1095brinessolar evaporationlithium carbonatelithium hydroxide |
| spellingShingle | David Torres Kevin Pérez Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Williams H. Leiva Edelmira Gálvez Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez Sandra Gallegos Ingrid Jamett Jonathan Castillo Manuel Saldana Norman Toro Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process Metals brines solar evaporation lithium carbonate lithium hydroxide |
| title | Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process |
| title_full | Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process |
| title_fullStr | Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process |
| title_short | Salar de Atacama Lithium and Potassium Productive Process |
| title_sort | salar de atacama lithium and potassium productive process |
| topic | brines solar evaporation lithium carbonate lithium hydroxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/10/1095 |
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