Question about Li2CO3

Question

How do you get Li2CO3 from an ore containing LiCl. What are the exact ways to extract Li2CO3 in this way? And secondly, after you extract Li2CO3, how do you prove/make sure it is Li2CO3 (any experiments, etc.?).

Answer 1

One can obtain Lithium Carbonate through a series of reactions: the first step is to react a solution of Lithium Chloride with a solution of Sodium Hydroxide, which will afford Lithium Hydroxide.

This lithium hydroxide solution has to be then bubbled with carbon dioxide gas in a reaction vessel which will then produce a solution that includes lithium carbonate.

Characterization (confirmation of the chemical's identity) can be accomplished via XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) that gives a view of the crystallinity of the material, as well as IR Spectra to confirm functional groups.

For a more detailed review on the matter, check out the following paper:

"Purification of industrial grade lithium chloride for the recovery of high purity battery grade lithium carbonate" by N. Linneen et al.

I am also always happy to further explain a more detailed process!