One of the recent technological advances is direct lithium extraction: a method by which highly selective absorbents attract lithium from groundwater or geothermal brines while rejecting other cations such as calcium and magnesium. This process preconcentrates lithium which makes lithium brine extraction possible.

Vacom’s technology, the One-Step™ system, fits well as a key system for processing lithium.

First of all, lithium carbonate, a common salt form for lithium requires further concentration and purification through a well-designed non-scaling, non-fouling evaporator and crystallizer all-in-one system. Combining evaporation and crystallization in one system reduces footprint and energy consumption.

Secondly, other necessary technologies such as reverse osmosis membranes also require concentrating reject streams as part of the process, another area where a Vacom system can be used. And finally, an efficient evaporator / crystallizer system creates high quality distilled water that can be reused in the many processing steps or disposed of in a safe, environmentally friendly manner unlike large land evaporation ponds.