Investigation of Laboratory Scale Lithium Extraction from Spodumene Ore by Sulphation Roasting

Student: Ebenezer Oludele Awoniyi (Project, 2025)
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Air Force Institute of Technology (Degree), Kaduna, Kaduna State

Abstract

The rapid growth in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage has increased global demand for lithium. Nigeria hosts significant but underutilized lithium deposits, creating an opportunity for local processing and value addition. This study investigates laboratory-scale lithium extraction from spodumene ore through sulphation roasting followed by water leaching. A Box–Behnken Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the effects of roasting temperature, leaching time, and acid-to-ore ratio on lithium recovery. β-spodumene was produced by thermal conversion at 1000 °C before sulphuric acid roasting and leaching. Lithium content in the filtrate was analyzed and precipitated as lithium carbonate. Statistical evaluation showed a strong quadratic model fit (R² ≈ 0.97), with temperature and leaching time having the most significant influence. Optimized recovery conditions achieved approximately 28% extraction efficiency. The results provide baseline data for the development of scalable lithium processing in Nigeria.

Keywords
lithium extraction spodumene sulphation roasting leaching optimization RSM Li₂CO₃ production energy storage materials Nigerian lithium
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