LITHIUM PROCESSING
FLSmidth ’ s pyro-processing technology includes a two-stage cyclone preheater , a rotary kiln and an indirect rotary cooler , a natural gas-fired rotary kiln burner and a complete off-gas handling circuit
A recipe for success
The electrification drive has seen OEMs , service suppliers and innovators dive into the lithium space looking to gain share of a market expected to rapidly expand , Dan Gleeson reports
Taking today ’ s price to one side , it is clear there will have to be a significant uptick in lithium supply for the world to fulfil the demand associated with its electrification ambitions .
Whether it is batteries in automotives , mining vehicles or energy storage , lithium has a significant role to play across many industries looking to wean themselves off fossil fuels .
There is no shortage of lithium available currently , but there are fears the conventional routes to extract it – solar evaporation in brines , for instance – will mean supply cannot keep up with projected demand . At the same time , such routes are typically both water- and energyintensive : two attributes companies mining the material do not want to be associated with in today ’ s growing ‘ green ’ economy .
IM delves into some of the avenues companies are considering as part of their current and future lithium processing plans .
OEM solutions
Unsurprisingly many of the big original equipment manufacturers in the mining space have been working on solutions to tackle the challenges mining companies are facing , realising this is a market that they could get lots of business from .
Metso , for instance , looks to cover the complete lithium value chain , offering spodumene-focused solutions that could result in a lithium hydroxide product , or brine-focused options for eventual lithium carbonate output .
Mikko Rantaharju , Head of Hydrometallurgy at Metso , explained on the company ’ s battery metals offering : “ We have a comprehensive offering from mine pit up to battery-grade metal salts , including process development , testing services , equipment and aftermarket services , all aimed at supporting our customers to meet their targets .”
This is complemented by a digital offering that includes the Sense series products and the Geminex™ digital twin ; the former represented by intelligent instruments that monitor the various processes in the plant and the latter allowing mining companies to plan and test out the interactions between different stages of processing in a simulated environment to come to the optimal outcome .
This end-to-end portfolio – which Metso says is the industry ’ s only holistic battery metals offering – enables the company to optimise the processes across all these areas .
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc is looking to tap into this knowledge , having recently signed a memorandum of understanding to create a strategic partnership with Metso aimed at establishing terms to develop a lithium hydroxide production facility to process lithium mineral concentrates .
Avalon intends to deploy Metso ’ s technology – including its advanced alkaline leach technology – to construct and operationalise a full-service lithium processing facility at the company ’ s recently acquired Thunder Bay site in Ontario .
Upon completion of the project , Avalon says it will be the first vertically integrated lithium producer in Ontario , while ensuring Canada ’ s electric vehicle battery manufacturing base has a stable , proximate and long-term supply of this resource .
The non-binding MoU was recently converted
into an expanded partnership agreement to advance the construction of a full-service lithium processing facility in Thunder Bay . The parties also agreed to co-develop a Technology & Innovation Centre to be located on-site in Thunder Bay , accelerating an Industrial Park concept that will co-locate key supply chain partners .
This will see : n Metso provide testing and engineering equipment procurement and related services to develop and commercialise Avalon ’ s Thunder Bay lithium processing facility ; n The creation of a testing laboratory for research and development on lithium and clean technology solutions ; and n Avalon and Metso to cooperate on the recycling of used batteries and the refining of battery chemicals for recycle use . Through the R & D efforts undertaken by Avalon and Metso , the proprietary lithium hydroxide process the companies are looking to leverage represents a far more sustainable conversion method compared with conventional acid roasting , Avalon says . The process operates in an alkaline state and uses pressure leaching , which is unique for lithium conversion , eliminating the use of sulphuric acid , and with no production of sodium sulphate as a by-product .
Instead , a substance called analcime – an inert solid aluminium silicate – is produced , as well as calcium carbonate . Importantly , both substances have commercial uses in industrial building applications and other industries . The method also reduces overall air emissions compared with conventional lithium processing , according to Avalon .
FLSmidth , meanwhile , has been garnering interest for its own advanced calcining system to support critical functions in the lithium hydroxide space .
Such pyro-processing technology has been within the FLSmidth offering for some time , but , with lithium demand on the up , mining and downstream companies are looking to leverage it more .
Sibanye-Stillwater ’ s subsidiary company , Keliber , recently entered into an agreement for the supply of pyro-processing technology to the Keliber project ’ s lithium hydroxide refinery in Kokkola , Finland . The agreement built on an existing relationship involving testing and engineering for the Kokkola lithium hydroxide refinery .
The pact will see FLSmidth deliver the advanced calcining system that will support
12 International Mining | MARCH 2024