Research and Progress of Lithium Extraction in Bayer Process
The source and behavior of lithium in alumina process were studied,and the main production process of extracting lithium carbonate from ore and salt lake was summarized.Due to the particularity of alumina production and sodium aluminate solution produced by Bayer process,the technology of extracting lithium from ore and salt lake could not be applied to lithium extraction by Bayer process.After repeated research,it is proposed that aluminum hydroxide or aluminum oxide as crystal seed is added to absorb(co-precipitation)lithium in semen of Bayer method,and the resulting precipitated lithium slag can be effectively separated from semen of Bayer method by acid leaching and hydrothermal treatment.