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
For the full publication, please contact the author directly at: awoniyioludele@gmail.com
Filters
Institutions
- Covenant Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State 1
- Covenant University, Canaan Land, Ota, Ogun State 4
- Crawford University of Apostolic Faith Mission Faith City, Igbesa, Ogun State 2
- Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State 1
- Cross Rivers University of Technology, Calabar, Cross Rivers State 142
- Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State 11
- Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe, Delta State 12
- Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State 138
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 17
- Edo University, Iyamho, Edo State 10