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Lithium: fueling the clean energy revolution

Lithium, it’s the soft, silvery-white metal that’s become a Global lithium-ion battery production The transport sector alone critical component in hundreds of applications, including the auto industry’s new shining star – the electric vehicle contributes roughly one- (EV). While EVs have been around for some time, it’s due capacity will increase by 521% between quarter of all energy related to much-improved lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology that we’re actually seeing them on the road in greater 2016 and 2020. CO2 and is still primarily numbers. These super-tech batteries keep their charge for long periods (100 to 300 miles), are lightweight and dependent on fossil fuels. recharge quickly (ca. 30 minutes via a super charger) – key criteria for buyers. But that’s changing thanks And, if you look around at the devices and equipment WHO’S SUPPLYING THE DEMAND? processors, battery/cathode manufacturers, carmakers to the lightest solid on Earth, you’re using today, you’ll find Li-ion batteries powering The massive price jump for lithium is due to the rise – and politicians – that lithium supply will be reliable, everything from your mobile phone, laptop, digital and the even greater expected rise – in the production of high-quality and affordable. Likewise, EVs and Li-on which some are even camera, your cordless hand drill and your e-bike. They’re and sale of EVs, domestic solar usage and digital devices, batteries are not without their critics, who are quick also used to store energy from wind and solar, which all of which require Li-ion batteries. to point out that a structure for recycling Li-ion batteries calling the “new gasoline.” removes even more CO2 from the environment. is still largely missing. Finding closed-loop solutions Globally, more than 120 different EV models are expected for recovering and reusing Li-on battery materials would 21ST CENTURY GOLD RUSH to hit the road by 2020, in countries like the U.S., , boost the technology’s green credentials and further Lithium does not occur as a metal in nature, but is India and Norway, among others. To power them, both solidify lithium’s future. extracted from igneous rocks – primarily spodumene – or China and the U.S. have ramped up Li-ion battery from bodies of water with high salt content or brine production, with China in the lead. In the U.S., Tesla has On the consumer side, drivers are warming up to EVs, deposits. And while not classified as a “critical” raw two gigafactories for EV battery and component as concerns about product safety, battery durability and material, lithium is a coveted commodity. It traded for a production and is building another in China. However, range subside. The combined technical improvements, whopping US$16,500 per ton in 2018 – up 45 percent from EV growth in the U.S. has been slower than expected, increased model choices and drop in price, as well as the 2017. However, prices vary widely because it’s traded making up less than 2 percent of auto sales and it could appearance of more charging points, suggest that we’re directly between buyers and sellers versus through an be another six to seven years before they become in for a brighter and cleaner future. exchange. mainstream. In 2016, global Li-ion battery production capacity reached 28GWh and by 2020 it is expected to Latin America is leading the world in production. Its reach 174GWh – an increase of 521 percent. Not “Lithium Triangle,” made up of , Argentina and surprisingly, lithium materials demand is projected to And the award goes to …

Bolivia, hold anywhere from 54 to 80 percent of the grow at a 13.8 percent CAGR between 2018 and 2023. In 2017, GEA was recognized with the world’s lithium resources, much of it in brines. Brine “Award for Excellent Supplier” by Shenzen extraction is a less expensive process than obtaining TIPPING THE BALANCE BTR New Energy Materials. it from ore, but is a longer process, given that it can Different lithium compounds have different end uses, A globally leading lithium battery anode and cathode material solutions provider, take up to two years for the evaporation phase. therefore lithium is not homogenous, like aluminum, for BTR recognized GEA’s top performance. example. This, and the fact that it is a relatively small In particular, the Chinese company , the world’s second largest producer, holds the market dominated by a few players, makes it more recognized GEA's technology, as well as innovative and pragmatic solutions, most lithium reserves. Most of it has to be crushed out of difficult to set a “price” for lithium, trickier to hedge, and which have contributed significantly to rock, so to balance the costs, it is largely shipped to therefore, secure financing for new extraction projects. the production of high-quality lithium. China for processing. China also has its own reserves and is buying rights to mine lithium in other countries. The ramp up of lithium production is primarily In the U.S., lithium is recovered from brine pools, dependent on increasing EV adoption. This of course although how much is produced has not been published. requires consumer buy-in. However, it also requires Zimbabwe, and to a lesser extent and persuading others along the chain – investors, chemical are also producing lithium in smaller quantities. 22 GENERATE ISSUE 19 GENERATE ISSUE 19 23 GEA covers nearly the entire value chain of lithium processing – How to do it: Processing from evaporative concentration, precipitation, crystallization to purification and drying – tailoring the powder to specific end-use battery-grade lithium requirements. Our award-winning customer service and unrivaled technologies are valued by lithium manufacturers globally because we deliver a competitive advantage Crystallization Spray drying , and to a lesser extent, lithium due to higher rates of production, Irrespective of its source – brine () or When it comes to spray drying, GEA powder engineers carbonate, are used to make Li-ion batteries and must be reduced costs and more efficiency, spodumene () – GEA has developed state-of- tailor each solution to a specific downstream component, while complying with stringent the-art technologies for concentration and crystallization. utilizing one of two types of atomization devices: rotary or regulations. GEA test centers allow As the source solution goes through precipitation steps nozzle. Nozzles are available with pressure and pneumatic exceptionally high-grade – 99.5 percent pure – to meet to become a lithium hydroxide solution, sodium chloride configurations as are combination or multi-flow systems. customers to pre-test their lithium or sodium sulfate is generated as a byproduct. They Rotary atomization is the best solution for most scenarios samples so they can make informed are separated out from the lithium solution and once manufacturer specifications. Given extraction costs, it is given the equipment is easy to operate and energy isolated, the salt (table or Glauber’s salt) is melted down, decisions before committing to efficient. The GEA COMBI-NOZZLE™ combines the recrystallized and dried so that it can be sold. GEA’s best features of pressure and pneumatic nozzles and is critical to get as much value as possible out of each ton of industrial level production. double stage crystallization method utilizes both vacuum specifically designed for Li-ion battery material, offering and surface cooling to limit fouling and minimize lithium unique advantages over other nozzle types. Regardless of losses. ore or brine during processing. Here’s how it’s done: the atomization approach, GEA offers compact, single-line spray drying plants for any capacity.

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Spodumene ore conversion First treatment A source of lithium, spodumene, is a mineral The raw ore is put through a series of crushing The ground lithium ore (lithium sulfate) is heated found in prismatic crystals, often of substantial and size-classification steps to create the requi- in a rotary calcining kiln where the lithium is size. red particle size. displaced by sodium. The concentrate is cooled, milled into a fine powder and mixed with sulfuric acid and roasted again. Magnesium and calcium are also removed.

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Compound processing Cell component Cell / battery manufacture Sodium hydroxide is added to both manufacture A thin membrane (separator) is placed between the anode and the cathode to streams, producing lithium hydroxide. This The or lithium hydroxide prevent contact between them, while process generates two byproducts: table powder is mixed with diverse materials – allowing ion movement. salt (from the brine) and Glauber’s salt mostly metals – to give them the desired (from the spodumene). component qualities. The electrode structure is connected to the terminals, plus any safety devices, and Lithium carbonate is produced if soda ash To produce the electrode (cathode & inserted into the case – which is then filled is added to the brine solution. anode) components, the mixed materials with an electrolyte solvent and sealed. Lithium brine Solar evaporation First treatment Each solution is purified and concentrated are coated on both sides of their metallic via evaporation and crystallization. The foils: copper for the anode, aluminum for Once assembled, the battery is activated Lithium is obtained from saline brines (salt The salt-rich brine water is pumped into a When the lithium brine (lithium chloride) reaches crystals are separated by centrifugal force, the cathode. via a charging and discharging cycle, then lakes), which are fed from seawater, surface series of evaporation ponds where solar evapo- the right concentration, the solution is pumped tested, after which it can be sold. dried, packed and shipped as powder to a After coating, the foils are cut into narrow water or groundwater. ration occurs over an average of 14 months. to a recovery plant where extraction and filte- cell component manufacturer. strips. ring remove unwanted impurities.

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