Lithium Hydroxide Production from Lithium Sulfate

【Project Overview】

In the production of new energy lithium battery materials, the efficient processing of mixed lithium chloride and sodium chloride salts during the conversion of lithium sulfate to lithium hydroxide has been a persistent industry challenge. Traditional methods often suffer from incomplete salt separation, high energy consumption for acid/alkali production, and low resource recovery rates. This not only leads to raw material waste and increased overall production costs but also struggles to meet the stringent purity and capacity requirements for battery-grade lithium hydroxide, constraining enterprises' scaling capabilities and green transition.​

Create implemented a key project for the resource recovery and utilization of mixed lithium chloride/sodium chloride waste salts generated during lithium battery material production. Utilizing advanced electro-driven membrane separation technology, the process efficiently converts pre-concentrated and purified mixed salt solutions. This chemical-free process employs an electric field to directly transform lithium chloride and sodium chloride into high-value lithium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The generated acid is recycled to the front end of the process, achieving resource circulation, while the produced lithium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide solutions are used to subsequently manufacture battery-grade lithium hydroxide products.

【Project Highlights】

he designed capacity of this project is equivalent to an annual output of 1,000 tons of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, processing a feed solution with Li⁺ concentration of 13 g/L and Na⁺ concentration of 7 g/L. Commissioning Data: Confirms that the concentration and output of the produced acid and alkali meet agreement requirements, with system energy consumption lower than design standards, demonstrating excellent economics and stability.

• Leading Core Technology Solving Industry Challenges
  Employs the green electro-driven membrane separation process to successfully transform mixed salt wastewater from a disposal burden into valuable products, directly converting challenging chloride salts into high-value lithium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. This fundamentally overcomes the technical limitations of traditional methods, namely high costs and potential secondary pollution.
• Resource Circulation with Significant Economic Benefits
  The hydrochloric acid produced is recycled to the production line's upstream processes, drastically reducing the procurement of fresh acid and the treatment cost for waste acid. This establishes an internal circular economy model, significantly enhancing the project's overall economic and environmental benefits.
• Clear Product Orientation Targeting the High-End Market
  The final product is battery-grade lithium hydroxide, directly addressing the core needs of the new energy industry chain. This achieves a value leap from industrial waste to high-end lithium battery materials, offering broad market prospects.
• Excellent Energy Performance Exceeding Targets
  While meeting capacity and product quality requirements, the system's actual operating energy consumption is lower than stipulated in the agreement, reflecting the high efficiency and superiority of Create's process technology and reducing long-term operating costs for the client.
• Efficient & Reliable Execution Ensuring Rapid Project Advancement
  The timeline from contract signing to equipment supply was approximately 90 days, demonstrating Create's strong project execution and manufacturing capabilities, ensuring rapid project deployment and providing a powerful guarantee for the client to seize market opportunities.