Outotec® Lithium

Production Technologies

Outotec's expertise and experience provide the path

to optimized solutions and complete plants for the Benefits
production of high-purity lithium carbonate based on
„„ Proven references
different lithium raw materials. Our innovative and
„„ Tailored and optimized technology solutions
proven beneficiation, calcination, leaching, solution
purification and lithium recovery technologies cover the from raw material to end product
whole range, from raw material to end product. „„ One-stop shop concept: testing-engineering-
process–equipment–automation-services
Outotec offers unique technology solutions including
„„ Wide selection of lithium beneficiation,
laboratory testing, engineering and delivering proven
plants, processes, equipment and automation as well production, by-product and residue treatment
as unbeatable service and support. We are committed technologies
to co-operating and continuously developing our „„ Unique laboratory facilities and expertise
products and processes with our customers, from
„„ Process guarantees
environmentally sustainable single solutions to the
„„ Environmentally friendly
delivery of entire turnkey plants. Customer needs and
the unique characteristics of the raw materials are at
the heart of our process design.
 Crushing Separation Grinding Flotation Dewatering Filtration
Outotec Larox®
PF Automatic
Pressure Filters

Spodumene Outotec Outotec Outotec® Outotec Outotec®

ore partnership partnership Grinding Mills TankCell® Thickeners and
Flotation Units Clarifiers

Pressure leaching
and hydrocarbonation Impurity
Calcining in alkaline media Dewatering removal Crystallization Filtration

Lithium
carbonate
product

Outotec® OKTOP® Pressure Outotec® OKTOP® Outotec Outotec Larox®

Fluidized Bed Leaching Thickener Reactors partnership RT Horizontal
Reactors Vacuum Belt
Filters

Filtration

Analcime
(NaAlSi2*H2O)
cake
Outotec Larox® RT
Horizontal Vacuum
Belt Filters

Example of spodumene concentrator and soda leaching process

Outotec Lithium Production Technologies

Outotec provides its customers with an unrivalled
combination of process expertise, equipment and
services, and focuses on developing its technology
solutions and services for the mining, metallurgy,
industrial minerals, and chemical process industries.
We continuously strive to build long-term relationships
with our customers, ensuring that they receive the very
best solutions for their operating environment.
Our expertise covers the whole chain of lithium
production, from concentrator to high-purity lithium
chemicals. Involving Outotec in projects at an early
stage ensures you get the most profitable and
competent solutions.
Our technology selection expertise is based on
laboratory test programs, feasibility studies, and basic
and detailed engineering. We provide world-leading
technologies, including technology-specific equipment
supply, training, erection supervision and start-up
assistance, as well as follow-up and technical support
services. This level of involvement from a single partner
offers you the possibility to enhance your production
processes and minimize operating costs throughout
the lifetime of the plant.
 Brine Calcium and
magnesium
Boron solvent precipitation and Lithium carbonate
extraction purification precipitation
OKTOP®
Reactors

Pretreatment VSF® Solvent OKTOP® Reactors

Extraction Dewatering Flotation
OKTOP® Reactors
Outotec® Potassium
Thickeners and sodium
and Clarifiers salt by-
products

Outotec TankCell®
Filtration Flotation Units
High-
Dewatering purity
lithium
carbonate
Outotec Larox® RT product
Horizontal Vacuum
Belt Filters

Outotec® Filtration
Thickeners
Calcium
and Clarifiers
and
magnesium
precipitates
Outotec Larox® PF
Automatic Pressure Filters

Boric acid
by-product

Example of lithium recovery from brine

Sustainable beneficiation of natural resources

Outotec offers:
Outotec has process expertise in beneficiation of nn Innovative and proven technologies
lithium resources. Outotec supplies proven extraction, nn Laboratory test programs and
separation, flotation and dewatering systems for lithium pilot test campaigns
minerals and brine, as well as for the production of high- nn Scoping and feasibility studies
purity lithium carbonate that can be further processed nn Basic and detailed engineering
into other lithium compounds or metallic lithium. nn Proprietary and key equipment supply
nn Process automation and instrumentation
The main source of lithium is the brine from salars. nn Turnkey plants
Besides lithium, natural brine also contains potassium, nn Commissioning and start-up services
magnesium and calcium with anions, mainly chlorides nn Spare parts and maintenance services
and sulfates as well as borates. Brine is concentrated nn Plant audits, retrofits and
by solar evaporation in large ponds in order to increase equipment upgrades
the lithium content for further tailored purification.

Typical rock-forming lithium minerals, such as

spodumene, need thermal conversion treatment at
temperatures above 1000 °C, for example in a fluidized
bed furnace, in order to be leachable. Options to extract
lithium from calcine include acidic (H2SO4) or alkaline
(Na2CO3) leaching followed by innovative purification steps
 Finland, May 2013.
Outotec lithium technologies: Lithium recovery:
nn Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) precipitation
Beneficiation: nn Crystallization
nn Grinding nn Lithium chemicals production
nn Gravity separation
nn Magnetic separation Effluent treatment
nn Flotation
nn Thickening Other utility and reagent treatment processes
nn Filtration
Equipment:
Thermal conversion treatment or calcining: nn OKTOP® Reactors for atmospheric and
nn Fluidized bed technology pressure leaching and precipitation
nn Rotary kiln technology nn Outotec® Thickeners and Clarifiers
nn Outotec Larox® Filters
Hydrometallurgical processing: nn Outotec® Cooling Towers
nn Atmospheric leaching in sulfate media nn Outotec® Ventgas Scrubbers
nn Pressure leaching in alkaline media nn Outotec VSF® Solvent Extraction
nn Bi-carbonation nn Outotec® Grinding Mills
nn Magnesium precipitation nn Outotec® Fluidized Beds
nn Calcium precipitation nn Cooperation partners in crystallizers,
nn Evaporation evaporators, dryers, ion exchange
nn Crystallization equipment, separators and crushing
nn Solvent extraction for lithium recovery
nn Solvent extraction for boron recovery Process automation including
nn Solvent extraction for calcium removal process analyzers, instrumentation
nn Solvent extraction for magnesium removal and electrification, as well as process
nn Solvent extraction for impurity removal control and reporting systems
nn Ion exchange for impurity removal
nn Residue stabilization Services

Outotec provides leading technologies and services for the sustainable use of Earth’s natural resources.
As the global leader in minerals and metals processing technology, Outotec has developed over decades
many breakthrough technologies. The company also provides innovative solutions for industrial water
treatment, the utilization of alternative energy sources and the chemical industry.
Outotec shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

hydro@outotec.com
www.outotec.com
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