Process information
| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | AU |
| Reference year | 2018 |
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| Use advice for data set | When utilizing this dataset for life cycle assessment, it is important to note that the production processes for the raw materials and the associated energy flows that contribute less than 1% to the overall process have been excluded. Users should incorporate this dataset in the context of the complete life cycle of lithium-ion battery production, taking care to include appropriate system boundaries that account for all relevant upstream and downstream processes, including extraction, purification, and ultimately battery manufacture. Attention should also be paid to the geographic specificity of the dataset, as it pertains to lithium spodumene ore sourced from Western Australia. |
| Technical purpose of product or process | The lithium spodumene concentrate produced from this process with a lithium oxide (Li2O) content of 6% is intended for use in various applications within the lithium battery manufacturing industry. This high-grade concentrate is typically used as a primary feedstock for the production of lithium compounds that are essential components in the manufacture of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, ceramics, glass, and other industrial products necessitating high-purity lithium. |
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| General comment on data set | Lithium is abundant in several different ore structures throughout the world. Spodumene ore is abundant in western Australia and has been a longtime global source of lithium. Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) contains up to 8% Li2O (by mass) and can be refined to obtain lithium chemicals such as Li2CO3 or LiOH•H2O. We examined the production of concentrated spodumene from lithium-containing ores in western Australia and its conversion into Li2CO3 or LiOH•H2O in China. |
| Copyright | No |
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| Technology description including background system | We developed an LCI data set for lithium ore mining and processing parameters in western Australia. Site assumptions included the need to mine 14 million tonnes of material annually with an annual yield of 2 million tonnes of ore, which we assumed contained 0.8%-0.9% Li2O. The primary operations of the mining site would be excavating and moving materials with diesel trucks. We estimated diesel consumption by these trucks on the basis of continuous operation of 10 trucks. An estimated 1 million m3 of water would be consumed annually, some of which may be discharged to a water system. We assumed that the mined spodumene would be concentrated in a facility designed to have an independent electricity plant operating on diesel fuel. The plant would receive the ore and concentrate it through a series of size reduction, separation, and purification operations, which would consume reagents in relatively low quantities as well as water. The facility will produce concentrated spodumene ore. We assume that the concentrated spodumene has a minimum of 63% pure spodumene with a remaining mass of quartz and feldspar. This yields a minimum ~5% concentration of Li2O by mass for the delivered spodumene ore. Table 4 presents our assumed material and energy inputs to mine and produce concentrated spodumene from western Australia mines. |
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Inputs and Outputs