Determination of Elemental Impurities in Lithium Hydroxide Using ICP-OES

Driven by demand from high tech industries for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the global market for lithium (Li) compounds is expected to reach USD 26.7 billion by 2030 (1). Commercial production of Li compounds relies on extraction of Li from two naturally occurring sources; brine, principally in South America, and hard rock minerals such as spodumene, from orebodies found mainly in Australia and China. Traditionally, lithium hydroxide (LiOH) was converted from brine-extracted lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). However, recent advances in technology (e.g., membrane technology) have enabled the production of LiOH directly from brine. Both Li2CO3 andLiOH can be produced directly from hard rock minerals.