Research Information System
Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol.14, no.33, pp.1141-1158, 2024 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
The demand for lithium is increasing due to the production of lithium-ion batteries and its widespread use in the glass,
ceramics, pharmaceutical and nuclear industries. It is estimated that the need for lithium will more than double by 2025,
especially with the production of electric vehicles and mobile devices. Insufficient available resources to meet the
increasing demand necessitates the search for alternative secondary resources. Carbonate-hosted clay-type boron deposits
and boron production wastes containing up to 0.65% lithium (Li2O) are potential source to meet the lithium demand. In
this study, the leaching conditions of lithium from boron production waste activated thermally were investigated. For this
purpose, firstly, the waste was thermally activated at different temperatures ranging from 600-800°C, and the
mineralogical and morphological properties of the obtained products were determined. Then, the dissolution of lithium
from each activated sample by water leaching was examined. It was determined that dolomite, calcite, montmorillonite,
and tobermorite in the waste started to transform into monticellite (CaMgSiO4) from 650°C, and above 700°C the clay
structure was degraded and all thermo-chemical transformations were completed. It was observed that melting occurred
on the outer surfaces of the particles and accordingly, the pores closed and the particle diameters increased at 750 and
800C. The highest leaching efficiency (85%) was obtained under the optimized conditions (liquid/solid:20, temperature:
50C, contact time: 30 min) from the sample activated at 700°C for 120 min where the particle surface was more porous
and rougher and the mineralogical transformations were significantly completed.