Lithium
(information)
[](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Lithium-end-usage-in-the-global-market-share-2023_fig2_380754740)
Certainly! Here's a breakdown of the **20 most common uses of lithium**, ranked by their share of global consumption as of 2023:
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### 🔝 Top 5 Lithium-Consuming Sectors (2023)
1. **Batteries (Rechargeable & Primary)**
* **Share:** Approximately **87%** of global lithium demand.
* **Details:** Lithium-ion batteries are integral to electric vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics, and energy storage systems. ([Natural Resources Canada][1])
2. **Pharmaceuticals**
* **Share:** Around **5%**.
* **Details:** Lithium salts, such as lithium carbonate, are used to treat bipolar disorder and depression.
3. **Aluminum Production**
* **Share:** Approximately **3%**.
* **Details:** Lithium is used in aluminum smelting to improve the electrolytic process.
4. **Glass & Ceramics**
* **Share:** About **2%**.
* **Details:** Lithium compounds enhance the strength and thermal resistance of glass and ceramics.([CGEP][2])
5. **Greases**
* **Share:** Approximately **1%**.
* **Details:** Lithium-based greases are used in automotive and industrial applications due to their high temperature stability.([CGEP][2])
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### 🧪 Other Notable Lithium Applications
6. **Air Treatment Systems**
* **Use:** Lithium hydroxide removes carbon dioxide in spacecraft, submarines, and rebreathers.
7. **Nuclear Applications**
* **Use:** Lithium deuteride serves as fusion fuel in nuclear reactors and weapons.
8. **Alloys**
* **Use:** Lithium is added to aluminum, copper, and magnesium alloys to increase strength and reduce weight.
9. **Electronics & Semiconductors**
* **Use:** Lithium is used in lithium-based capacitors and specialty components.
10. **Optical Applications**
* **Use:** Lithium compounds are used in prisms, lenses, and laser technologies.
11. **Desiccants**
* **Use:** Lithium chloride and lithium bromide act as moisture-absorbing salts.
12. **Polymer & Plastics Additives**
* **Use:** Lithium is used as a catalyst in polymerization and to improve plastic properties.
13. **Rocket Propellant & Pyrotechnics**
* **Use:** Lithium compounds create bright red flames in fireworks and serve as propellant additives.
14. **Hydrogen Storage Research**
* **Use:** Lithium hydride is explored for chemical hydrogen storage for fuel cells.
15. **Air Conditioning Systems**
* **Use:** Lithium bromide is used in absorption chillers for cooling systems.
16. **Grease Stabilizers**
* **Use:** Enhances lubricating grease stability under extreme conditions.
17. **Laboratory Applications**
* **Use:** Employed as a carrier gas in chromatography and in other analytical procedures.
18. **Ceramics & Glass**
* **Use:** Lithium improves strength and thermal shock resistance in ceramics, ovenware, and specialty glass.
19. **Electrochemical Applications**
* **Use:** Used in various electrolysis processes.
20. **Welding & Cutting**
* **Use:** Lithium flames are used in oxy-hydrogen torches.
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If you're interested in a visual representation or further details on any of these applications, feel free to ask!
[1]: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/lithium-facts?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Lithium facts - Natural Resources Canada"
[2]: https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/publications/fact-sheet-lithium-supply-in-the-energy-transition/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Fact Sheet: Lithium Supply in the Energy Transition"
Top Exporters
Lithium Ore
- **Australia** – The largest lithium ore exporter, primarily as spodumene concentrate, with major markets in China and other Asian countries.
- **Chile** – Major exporter of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide from its vast lithium brine reserves in the Atacama Desert.
- **China** – Exports refined lithium products, though it also imports raw lithium ore for processing.
- **Argentina** – Exports lithium from the “lithium triangle” and supplies primarily to the U.S., Europe, and China.
- **Zimbabwe** – Emerging as a significant exporter of hard rock lithium ore, especially spodumene, primarily to China.
- **Brazil** – Exports lithium primarily as spodumene and lithium concentrate.
- **Portugal** – Europe’s main lithium producer, exporting lithium, though on a smaller scale than the top producers.
- **United States** – Though not a large exporter, the U.S. does export some lithium from domestic sources.
- **Canada** – Developing lithium mining projects, with future potential as an exporter, especially of spodumene.
- **Bolivia** – Holds significant lithium resources, though export production is still limited and developing.
- **Namibia** – Recently initiated lithium mining and exports, mostly to Asia.
- **Mexico** – Exploring lithium projects that could lead to exports, particularly from Sonora.
- **Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)** – Known for exploration projects and potential future exports.
- **Spain** – Small-scale lithium production with exports expected to increase in the future.
- **Russia** – Potential future player in lithium production and exports as new mines are developed.
- **Serbia** – Holds significant lithium reserves and plans for future mining and exports.
- **Finland** – Produces small amounts of lithium, primarily for European markets.
- **Ghana** – Recently initiated lithium exploration with plans for future exports.
- **Austria** – Small-scale lithium production with potential to grow as projects develop.
- **Peru** – Developing lithium resources with potential for future exports.
Known Methods of Extraction
### **Primary Methods (Commercial Scale)**
1. **Evaporation of Lithium Brines**:
- Brine is pumped from underground salt flats into large evaporation ponds where water evaporates, leaving lithium-rich salts behind.
2. **Hard Rock Mining**:
- Lithium is extracted from minerals like spodumene, petalite, and lepidolite found in hard rock deposits.
3. **Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)**:
- Emerging technologies use chemical sorbents, membranes, or ion-exchange resins to extract lithium directly from brine without evaporation ponds.
4. **Sulfuric Acid Roasting**:
- Spodumene ore is roasted with sulfuric acid to extract lithium as a lithium sulfate solution.
5. **Hydrometallurgical Processing**:
- Involves leaching lithium from ores with acids or alkalis, followed by precipitation and purification.
6. **Solar Evaporation**:
- Similar to brine evaporation but relies solely on solar energy to reduce operational costs.
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### **Alternative Sources**
7. **Extraction from Geothermal Brines**:
- Geothermal power plants can recover lithium from hot brine used in electricity generation.
8. **Clay Extraction**:
- Lithium-rich clays like hectorite are mined and treated chemically to extract lithium.
9. **Salt Lake Harvesting**:
- Salt lakes rich in lithium (e.g., Salar de Atacama) are tapped for their brines.
10. **Seawater Extraction**:
- Lithium is present in trace amounts in seawater, and emerging technologies aim to extract it cost-effectively.
11. **Oilfield Brines**:
- Lithium is extracted as a byproduct from brines produced during oil and gas operations.
12. **Petalite Ore Processing**:
- Petalite, a lithium-rich mineral, is processed similarly to spodumene for lithium extraction.
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### **Recycling and Recovery**
13. **Battery Recycling**:
- Recycling lithium-ion batteries to recover lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
14. **Industrial Waste Recovery**:
- Lithium can be recovered from industrial waste streams, such as those from glass and ceramics production.
15. **Recovery from Spent Catalyst Materials**:
- Lithium used in catalysts (e.g., in the petrochemical industry) can be reclaimed and recycled.
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### **Experimental and Emerging Methods**
16. **Nanotechnology Filtration**:
- Advanced nanofiltration membranes separate lithium from brine or wastewater.
17. **Electrochemical Lithium Extraction**:
- Involves applying an electric current to selectively extract lithium ions from a solution.
18. **Biological Extraction**:
- Using microorganisms or algae to extract lithium from ores or brines.
19. **Molecular Sieve Technology**:
- Selective molecular sieves can trap lithium ions from complex brine mixtures.
20. **Supercritical CO₂ Leaching**:
- A green technology using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent to extract lithium from ores.
