The acquaring of synthetic zabuyelite (Li2CO3) from geothermal brines

Lithium is used in many industrial areas, especially electric vehicle batteries. Various investigations have been made on the presence of geothermal resources as an alternative to the resources found in concentrated salt lake brines. However, a detailed study on recovery and crystallization morphology from local natural solutions are not available in the literature. In this thesis study, the crystallization process of zabuyelite in the chemical composition of lithium carbonate and lithium and sodium carbonate solutions at different initial concentrations, reaction temperature, presence of impurities, feed type, crystal growth time and initial pH value, including the various working parameters effects on, lithium recovery efficiency, product purity, grain size, and crystal morphology were investigated. Sodium carbonate solution, carbon dioxide gas, and both were fed simultaneously in the hybrid system as the carbonate source for lithium carbonate crystal formation in the lithium solution, which was first purified in lithium hydroxide synthetic solution, then recovered by Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) method from Afyonkarahisar geothermal waters. The results showed that 75% of the lithium in the feed was converted to lithium carbonate from Afyonkarahisar geothermal waters at 80°C, at a minimum concentration of 2 M, and it was determined that the obtained solid could be produced with high purity.