Post by pling on Feb 18, 2016 19:23:04 GMT
Fra sciencenordic.com 28. januar 2012
En "gammel" artikkel som er basert på Sari Lukkari sitt postdoktorprosjekt om lithium fra Kokkola området. Det kan være interessant å se tilbake hvordan "ståa" var for ca. 4 år siden, nå som PFS er rett rundt hjørnet.
Finland, the new lithium powerhouse?
- In the Finnish bedrock, lithium is enriched in coarse-grained spodumene pegmatite veins.
- From salt lakes, lithium is obtained in the form of salts, but in the case of spodumene, lithium is recovered by sodium carbonate dissolution procedures, which yield extra pure lithium carbonate. This is a demanding and time-consuming process, but the end product is said to be much purer than the lithium salts recovered from salt lakes.
- Lithium-containing spodumene occurs naturally in the form of α spodumene; in this form lithium will not dissolve even in strong mineral acids. For this it must first be converted at temperatures of 950–1000 degrees Celsius into β spodumene so that the lithium can be extracted. The composition of spodumene varies slightly at different temperatures, and the process requires considerable thermal energy.
- “We’ve been studying the reasons behind these changes in composition,” says Lukkari. “Our preliminary results indicate that a higher iron content explains lower deformation temperatures, but the range of temperature variation is rather restricted.”
- The results will help to concentrate commercial excavation in areas with higher grade spodumene. The narrow range of deformation temperature is a beneficial factor with respect to industrial process control, she explains.
- The lithium will be mined in an open-pit quarrying operation. No major environmental hazards are foreseen.
- “The plan is to separate the lithium from the mineral using inexpensive and environmentally friendly biogas made from agricultural biomass and waste from fur farms,” says Lukkari.
- “By-products from the operation, including analcime, tantalum and quart-feldspar mixture, can also be used in the ceramics and the electronics industry. Crushed stone will be used in road construction and later on to rehabilitate the quarry.”
En "gammel" artikkel som er basert på Sari Lukkari sitt postdoktorprosjekt om lithium fra Kokkola området. Det kan være interessant å se tilbake hvordan "ståa" var for ca. 4 år siden, nå som PFS er rett rundt hjørnet.
Finland, the new lithium powerhouse?
- In the Finnish bedrock, lithium is enriched in coarse-grained spodumene pegmatite veins.
- From salt lakes, lithium is obtained in the form of salts, but in the case of spodumene, lithium is recovered by sodium carbonate dissolution procedures, which yield extra pure lithium carbonate. This is a demanding and time-consuming process, but the end product is said to be much purer than the lithium salts recovered from salt lakes.
- Lithium-containing spodumene occurs naturally in the form of α spodumene; in this form lithium will not dissolve even in strong mineral acids. For this it must first be converted at temperatures of 950–1000 degrees Celsius into β spodumene so that the lithium can be extracted. The composition of spodumene varies slightly at different temperatures, and the process requires considerable thermal energy.
- “We’ve been studying the reasons behind these changes in composition,” says Lukkari. “Our preliminary results indicate that a higher iron content explains lower deformation temperatures, but the range of temperature variation is rather restricted.”
- The results will help to concentrate commercial excavation in areas with higher grade spodumene. The narrow range of deformation temperature is a beneficial factor with respect to industrial process control, she explains.
- The lithium will be mined in an open-pit quarrying operation. No major environmental hazards are foreseen.
- “The plan is to separate the lithium from the mineral using inexpensive and environmentally friendly biogas made from agricultural biomass and waste from fur farms,” says Lukkari.
- “By-products from the operation, including analcime, tantalum and quart-feldspar mixture, can also be used in the ceramics and the electronics industry. Crushed stone will be used in road construction and later on to rehabilitate the quarry.”