The significant role of lithium in the continued development and expansion of renewable and clean energy has led to an increase in the demand for projects involving the extraction of lithium from shallow brines, particularly in the “Lithium Triangle” – Salar de Atacama in Chile, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and Salar de Hombre Muerto in Argentina.
With this increased demand, several companies have developed direct extraction processes and new technology to recover lithium in brine. These direct extraction processes have emerged as an alternative to the conventional production processes that increase the concentration of lithium through solar evaporation in evaporation ponds. The advantages of direct extraction processes include lower costs, shorter ramp-up periods, and reduced dependence on favorable climate.
However, not everything that glitters is gold. Management of spent brine tailings can be a significant issue if inadequate planning is undertaken. Direct extraction processes generate large amounts of spent brine (brine with a reduced lithium concentration), which may affect the lithium-rich brine concentration. To prevent tailings disposal from affecting the lithium-rich brine, diligent engineering design is required.
