Selective Fractionation and Valorization of Lithium Refinery Residues: A Critical Review
4 affiliations
- 1School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
- 2Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-Utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Xiangtan 411201, China
- 3School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- 4Faculty of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua 617000, China
Abstract
The rapid expansion of the lithium industry has generated large quantities of lithium refinery residue (LRR), whose stockpiling and landfilling cause environmental risks and the loss of potentially recoverable resources. This review critically examines LRR generated from the processing of spodumene and lepidolite, with particular emphasis on how differences in their mineralogical and chemical characteristics affect subsequent utilization and resource-recovery strategies. Current utilization pathways are classified into bulk utilization and selective fractionation followed by product-oriented valorization. Bulk utilization mainly includes direct incorporation into construction materials, activated cementitious materials, and sintered products, offering high residue-consumption capacity but generally limited added value. Selective fractionation employs leaching, flotation, magnetic separation, and gravity separation to separate Si-Al, Ca-S, and Fe-bearing fractions and to recover residual valuable elements, including Li, Ta, Nb, Rb, and Cs. The removal or stabilization of hazardous constituents, particularly F, Be, and Tl, is also evaluated as a prerequisite for safe valorization. The recovered fractions can subsequently be converted into products such as aluminosilicate powders, porous ceramics, zeolites, glass-fiber feedstocks, high-strength α-hemihydrate gypsum, and anhydrite II. Finally, the reviewed pathways are critically compared in terms of technical feasibility, resource efficiency, environmental risks, economic potential, technological maturity, and scale-up constraints. Priority is given to integrated processing strategies that combine hazardous-element control, selective recovery of valuable components, and large-volume utilization of bulk fractions to improve the overall sustainability and industrial viability of LRR valorization.
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BibTeX
@article{song2026selective,
title = {{Selective Fractionation and Valorization of Lithium Refinery Residues: A Critical Review}},
author = {Zhizhao Song and Wenting Xu and Qingjun Guan and Juan Li and Honghu Tang and Fenghui Wu},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31193539},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666521},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Selective Fractionation and Valorization of Lithium Refinery Residues: A Critical Review
AU - Zhizhao Song
AU - Wenting Xu
AU - Qingjun Guan
AU - Juan Li
AU - Honghu Tang
AU - Fenghui Wu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/molecules31193539
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666521
AB - The rapid expansion of the lithium industry has generated large quantities of lithium refinery residue (LRR), whose stockpiling and landfilling cause environmental risks and the loss of potentially recoverable resources. This review critically examines LRR generated from the processing of spodumene and lepidolite, with particular emphasis on how differences in their mineralogical and chemical characteristics affect subsequent utilization and resource-recovery strategies. Current utilization pathways are classified into bulk utilization and selective fractionation followed by product-oriented valorization. Bulk utilization mainly includes direct incorporation into construction materials, activated cementitious materials, and sintered products, offering high residue-consumption capacity but generally limited added value. Selective fractionation employs leaching, flotation, magnetic separation, and gravity separation to separate Si-Al, Ca-S, and Fe-bearing fractions and to recover residual valuable elements, including Li, Ta, Nb, Rb, and Cs. The removal or stabilization of hazardous constituents, particularly F, Be, and Tl, is also evaluated as a prerequisite for safe valorization. The recovered fractions can subsequently be converted into products such as aluminosilicate powders, porous ceramics, zeolites, glass-fiber feedstocks, high-strength α-hemihydrate gypsum, and anhydrite II. Finally, the reviewed pathways are critically compared in terms of technical feasibility, resource efficiency, environmental risks, economic potential, technological maturity, and scale-up constraints. Priority is given to integrated processing strategies that combine hazardous-element control, selective recovery of valuable components, and large-volume utilization of bulk fractions to improve the overall sustainability and industrial viability of LRR valorization.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -