Lithium has now become the highest sought after mineral on the market due to its various uses. From use in treatment of mental illness to powering electric vehicles, it’s no wonder the demand for lithium has increased so much the past few years. However, it isn’t just the bare mineral that is so sought after, but the various forms it can take after it is processed.
Commercial lithium production involves isolating lithium through the process of electrolysis. Through direct lithium extraction (DLE) lithium carbonate can be extracted using absorption or ion-exchange. This eliminates the footprint of evaporation ponds, lowers the usage of reagents, and increases the product purity overall. The finished product can then be used to create glass, lubricated greases, and lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the main reasons that the mineral is being referred to as white gold currently. These batteries are used for powering electric vehicles, e-bikes, power tools, and even our cell phones! With such a large push to reduce carbon emissions, more electric cars are being produced than ever, increasing the demand for lithium mining and manufacturing.
To learn more about lithium manufacturing and how it is affected the energy market, take a look at the infographic below:
Source: LithiumStockTips.com
