Lithium Carbonate Crystallizer Pilot: Reference Configuration

A reference configuration for producing battery-grade lithium carbonate at pilot scale, either from brine concentrate or from a recycled lithium stream.

Scope

Unit	Specification	Purpose
Evaporator	MVR or falling-film, 50–200 L/h evaporation	Concentrate Li to 20–25 g/L
Polishing IX	Selective resin column	Ca, Mg, B removal before carbonation
Carbonation reactor	100–300 L, jacketed, pH and dosing control	Na₂CO₃ addition at 80–90 °C
Centrifuge	Peeler or disc, 0.5–2 m³/h	Solid–liquid separation and washing
Dryer	Vacuum or tray, 80–120 °C	< 0.2% moisture
Mother liquor return	Tank and pump	Recovers lithium, controls yield

Grade is made in three places

1. Polishing before carbonation. Calcium and magnesium co-precipitate with carbonate and are the usual reason a product misses battery-grade specification. Remove them first; you cannot fix it downstream.

2. Seeding and supersaturation. Controlled supersaturation with seed crystals gives uniform, filterable particles. Fast dosing gives a gel that blinds the centrifuge.

3. Washing. Sodium is the main residual impurity. A short displacement wash with deionised water removes it without dissolving product; too much wash water costs yield.

Utilities and materials

Carbonation reactors are usually 316L; the liquor is benign to stainless but the carbonate slurry is abrasive at the pump and valve seats. Use pinch valves on slurry lines. Deionised water is required for washing if battery grade is the target.

Typical pilot output

10–50 kg/h of product is enough to supply qualification samples and to establish the impurity deportment and yield that a feasibility study needs.

Send your lithium concentration, impurity profile and target grade, and we will size the train and the washing stage.