Lithium carbonate from brine represents one of the most promising and sustainable sources of battery-grade lithium, leveraging the vast lithium resources contained in salt lakes across South America, China, and other regions. As demand for lithium surges and environmental concerns mount, brine-based production is gaining prominence for its lower carbon footprint and reduced land disturbance compared to hard rock mining.

The Brine Resource Base

Lithium-rich brines are found in salt lakes (salars) and underground aquifers, primarily in:

• South America: The "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia holds the world's largest lithium brine resources.

• China: Salt lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, including Zabuye Salt Lake, contain significant lithium reserves.

• United States: Brine resources exist in Nevada and other western states.

Traditional Brine Processing

Lithium mining from natural brines is performed through a methodology known as evaporitic technology:

1. Extraction: Brines are pumped from underground deposits

2. Evaporation: Brines are poured into large, waterproof, open-air evaporation ponds where they are allowed to reside

3. Concentration: Water evaporates over months or years, concentrating lithium and other salts

4. Processing: When the desired cation concentration is reached, the brine is processed further

5. Precipitation: Lithium carbonate is precipitated from the concentrated brine

Advanced Brine Processing Technologies

Bipolar Membrane CO₂ Mineralization
A novel technique has been proposed for directly producing battery-grade Li₂CO₃ from lake brine that enriches alkali metals (Na⁺, K⁺). This bipolar membrane CO₂ mineralization technique achieves:

• 99.75% purity of lithium carbonate

• Lithium recovery rate of 86%

Integrated Membrane Processes
An integrated route for battery-grade Li₂CO₃ production from salt-lake aged brine combines:

• Selective electrodialysis

• Bipolar membrane electrodialysis

• CO₂ mineralization crystallization

Under optimized conditions (70°C temperature and CO₂ gas flow rate of 0.30 L/min/L), the process achieves efficient separation.

Continuous Ion-Exchange and Membrane Separation
An integrated process combining continuous ion-exchange (CIX), membrane separation, and precipitation enables rapid and climate-independent brine-to-Li₂CO₃ production. This case study demonstrates high-purity lithium carbonate production from Salar de Uyuni brine.

Circularity and Sustainability

CO₂ Utilization
Research is advancing toward a higher level of circularity in lithium brine mining through CO₂ absorption in concentrated brines. A six-step treatment of real, highly saline lithium-rich brine can simultaneously recover lithium carbonate and sodium carbonate:

• 78% Li⁺ recovery as impure Li₂CO₃

• 71.8% Na⁺ recovery as Na₂CO₃

Brine Reinjection
After lithium extraction, the remaining brine is typically reinjected into the aquifer to maintain water balance and minimize environmental impact.

Circular Economy Potential
Novel treatment processes aim to simultaneously recover lithium carbonate and sodium carbonate, maximizing resource utilization.

Quality Considerations

Battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine must meet stringent purity standards. Advanced processing techniques enable:

• Direct production of battery-grade material without intermediate refining

• Removal of alkali metals (Na⁺, K⁺) that would otherwise compromise battery performance

• Consistent product quality from variable brine compositions

Regional Production Developments

Argentina
In Argentina, Eramet's Centenario plant continued to ramp up its lithium carbonate production, contributing to the growing South American supply base.

China
The Zabuye Salt Lake in Tibet is a significant source of lithium, with brine mixing methods being studied for enhanced lithium extraction efficiency. When the Li⁺ concentration in brine exceeded 2.00 g/L, carbonate concentration in the test pond reached optimal levels.

Future Outlook

Brine-based lithium carbonate production is expected to grow significantly as advanced processing technologies enable faster, more efficient extraction with lower environmental impact. The industry is moving toward integrated, climate-independent production systems that can rapidly respond to surging demand for battery-grade material.

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