Extracting lithium from cinvaldite

Technology for extracting lithium from the mineral cinvaldite – history, present and future
Extracting lithium from cinvaldite
This article provides an overview of the technological development of lithium extraction from zinnwaldite, the principal lithium-bearing mineral in the Czech Republic, focusing on the historically significant Cinovec deposit. Historically, various chemical methods have been applied for lithium separation, including acidic and alkaline processing. The Research Institute for Inorganic Chemistry (RIIC) located in the city of Ústí nad Labem played a pioneering role in this field, having developed and tested multiple processing technologies, particularly during the mid-20th century. Among these, the gypsum-based method showed the highest separation efficiency for lithium, and current efforts aim to optimize this process using industrial by-products, such as flue-gas desulfurization gypsum. RIIC’s extensive experimental base and expertise contributed significantly to the advancement of hydrometallurgical processing of silicate lithium ores and laid the foundation for current research. Modern approaches integrate both pyro- and hydrometallurgical techniques with the objective of enhancing lithium recovery rates while minimizing environmental impact. Among innovative developments is the InCeMeTs process, which utilizes cement kilns for thermal processing, thereby reducing material input and water consumption. Additionally, pre-concentration via magnetic separation, particularly effective for zinnwaldite due to its iron content, has emerged as a promising step. Plans are underway to establish a mining and lithium processing facility at Cinovec by 2030, which could play a key role in securing strategic raw materials for the European Union. The combination of rich geological resources, established expertise in lithium processing (led historically by RIIC), and renewed institutional and industrial interest makes the Czech Republic a potential significant contributor to the European battery materials supply chain.

Reference: ŠULC, Martin a JANOŠ, Pavel. Technologies for Lithium Extraction from the Mineral Zinnwaldite – History, Present and Future. Online. Chemické listy. 2025, vol. 119, no. 7, s. 385-393.

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