Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Production: Automated Elemental Analysis of Lithium Brines from Direct Lithium Extraction

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) selectively recovers lithium from underground brine, producing high-purity lithium concentrate for battery-grade salts. Quality control involves macro and trace elemental analysis to ensure extraction efficiency. Lithium brines pose analytical challenges due to high total dissolved solids and varying analyte concentrations. ICP-OES technology is ideal for analyzing these complex matrices. 

This study used the Agilent 5900 ICP-OES with the Advance Dilution System 2 to analyze key elements in raw, tail, and lithium concentrate brines. The analysis showed distinct elemental profiles and demonstrated excellent matrix tolerance with less than 1% variability over a 7-hour period.

Presenter: Ana García González (Atomic Spectroscopy Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies)

Ana Garcia is the Atomic Spectroscopy Application Scientist at Agilent Technologies. Ana has a broad background in atomic spectroscopy technologies, including international experience developing and validating analytical spectroscopy methods for the geochemical industry. She has also published in the fields of molecular spectroscopy and chemometrics. Ana holds a MSc in plant Biotechnology at CINVESTAV, México, and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology Engineering.