In her presentation “Assessing environmental impacts of lithium from brines: Data requirements and life cycle approaches”, Dr Vanessa Schenker (ETH Zurich) addressed the importance of systematic life cycle analyses (LCA) in order to better understand the environmental impact of lithium production, particularly in the Atacama Desert. She pointed out that demand will rise sharply over the next ten years and emphasised the need for transparent data in order to make the lithium market and other critical metals more sustainable. In her outlook, Dr Schenker pointed out that improved valuations and a better understanding of the future development of the lithium market will be possible as soon as more detailed data becomes available. She emphasised that not only lithium, but also other metals need a more in-depth assessment in order to better understand their environmental and social impact. 

Dr Felix Schulz (ITEL) addressed ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) as a central factor in risk management. ESG scoring and ratings are becoming increasingly important as they help to assess risks such as climate change and make strategic decisions. Dr Schulz emphasised that ITEL is currently developing an ESG risk tool to promote transparency and sustainability in the market. 

In the concluding panel discussion, geopolitical, economic and regulatory risks were analysed. The participants emphasised that a balance between innovation, ecological measures and economic viability is required in order to manage lithium sustainably in the long term. 

Session 2 | Tanzania: Lithium’s Role In Industrialization

In the second session of LithiumDays 2024, this year’s guest country Tanzania took centre stage. The Tanzanian ambassador H.E. Hassani Iddi Mwamweta opened the programme by drawing the participants’ attention to the great mineralogical wealth of his country. He emphasised the urgent challenges of our time: the increasing need for sustainable energy, climate protection and the responsibility of our generation for future generations. Tanzania is a veritable treasure trove of critical minerals – resources that are indispensable for global change, but which must be handled with care. Ambassador Mwamweta invited companies large and small to enter into partnerships, because: “If you want to go far, you have to go together.”

Mrs Sundi Malomo, member of the Tanzanian Mining Commission, then gave an overview of the planned environmental policy and the legal framework for mining in Tanzania. She emphasised that the government is striving to promote investment in the mining sector with clear and sustainable guidelines. 

Prof Paul Nex (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) then presented an analysis of lithium deposits in Africa. These are mainly found in mineral pegmatites. Prof Nex explained strategies for exploring new deposits. The lecture was supplemented by Dr Elisante Mishiu’s (University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) presentation, which gave a detailed insight into the general raw materials situation in Tanzania and impressively demonstrated the country’s immense mineralogical wealth.

The session was concluded by Ilse Boshoff, representing Knauf Gypsum Tanzania Ltd, who emphasised that Tanzania is an excellent location for companies thanks to its open and stable political conditions, growing economy, hospitable and young population and increasing technological development. Companies wishing to do business in Tanzania should utilise the country’s potential and work closely with the local population. The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) offers valuable support in this regard, assisting companies in all areas – from obtaining licences to work permits. Ms Boshoff emphasised: Tanzania is a country full of opportunities – for all those who are prepared to grow together with its people.

The session made it clear that Tanzania is not only rich in resources, but also a country with a strong commitment to sustainable development and co-operation.

Session 3 | Primary Lithium Resources: Case Studies & Analytics

Dr André Majdalani (AMG Lithium GmbH) opened session 3 with a presentation of the first European lithium refinery project. AMG plans to produce 500,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) annually by 2030, which would cover more than 40 % of European demand. The focus is on the conversion of technical lithium hydroxide into battery quality. The refinery will be operated in five modules with a total capacity of 100,000 tonnes of LiOH per year, enough for the batteries of 2 million electric vehicles. The first module is currently in operation, the second will follow in 2027. Another research goal is the development of lithium sulphide as a solid electrolyte.

Dr Axel Wenke (Neptune Energy) explained the Altmark Lithium Extraction (ALE) project, in which lithium is extracted from gas reservoirs with a high lithium content. The technology comprises three phases: Upstream (extracted reservoir waters), Midstream (lithium extraction from saline water) and Downstream (use in batteries). The pilot phase has started in 2023, with several direct lithium extraction methods being tested. The Altmark gas field in Germany provides the raw material source and production is scheduled to start in 2030. The advantage of the project is the low environmental impact due to the use of existing gas infrastructure. The first production licence for lithium in Germany is already in place. 

Evangelia Kardamaki (Fraunhofer IPM) presented a new inline monitoring technology for lithium extraction (DLE) that utilises laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Compared to conventional ICP-OES methods, LIBS offers the advantage of non-contact and in-situ measurement of lithium concentrations. This technology can measure lithium concentrations in liquids with high accuracy and will be integrated into KIT’s DLE test facility. It also enables the analysis of sorption and desorption rates, which is important for the optimisation of lithium extraction processes.

Anton du Plessis (Zinnwald Lithium GmbH) presented the Zinnwald lithium project in Saxony, which is located in one of the largest hard rock lithium deposits in Europe. The project aims to produce battery grade lithium hydroxide. Zinnwald has a long mining tradition dating back to the 15th century. Mining is scheduled to begin in 2027, with a planned annual capacity of 16-18 thousand tonnes of lithium hydroxide. There is a focus on environmentally friendly operations, including underground mining, minimising waste and energy consumption. The project is supported by the German government and the state of Saxony and contributes to the achievement of the EU Raw Materials Strategy (CRMA). 

In summary, the session provided a comprehensive overview of various innovative lithium projects in Europe that represent important steps towards securing a sustainable lithium supply for electromobility and other energy transition technologies. 

Session 4 | Lithium Recycling: Closing the Loop

The second day of LithiumDays began with a session on lithium recycling, led by Richard Schalinski, Deputy Head of the Resources and Recycling Department at ITEL (CRR). Three different aspects of lithium recycling were highlighted in the presentations and brought together in a panel discussion at the end.

In the keynote speech, chemist Dr Christian Hying (Evonik Operations GmbH) reported on a newly developed ceramic membrane. If a voltage is applied to this membrane, it has a very high selectivity (> 99%) for Li-ions. The advantage: a one-step process from a Li-containing aqueous solution to battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Such ceramics are normally soluble in water. This problem was circumvented by targeted doping of the crystal structure, achieving a lifespan of one year . As Evonik itself is not a recycler, the company wants to produce the ceramic membranes and sell them as modules. 

The second presentation, given by Jannik Schmitz (Rock Tech Lithium Inc.), reported on the possibility of recycling lithium with the planned lithium converter in Guben. Against the background of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the EU Battery Regulation, opportunities for recycling and refining lithium as a strategic and critical raw material in the EU are absolutely essential. The planned lithium converter can purify lithium to battery grade and is independent of recycling feedstock, as it is primarily focused on spodumene concentrate. The process offers two possible interfaces for recycling processes: Lithium can be added as sulphate or as technical grade hydroxide. Up to 20 % feedstock from recycling should be manageable for the converter, but care must be taken not to jeopardise the quality of the product. 

Leslie Bryson (Aurubis AG) presented Aurubis’ “lithium-first” recycling process in the last lecture of the session. The process is based on combined leaching with ozone and sulphuric acid and can handle thermally pre-treated as well as non-pre-treated black mass and is therefore comparatively robust. Various test runs were carried out on the pilot scale in order to evaluate different lithium products with different feedstock. Lithium phosphate, carbonate and sulphate were produced. The lithium sulphate route has a very high lithium selectivity and allows a sodium-free process, which means that a large proportion of low-value Glauber’s salt can be avoided.

Various aspects of recycling were addressed in the subsequent panel discussion entitled “How to close the loop?”. A recurring theme was the recyclability of LFP and new battery types. Hybrid and solid-state batteries are expected to enter the market and pose new problems for the recycling industry. The representatives from Aurubis and Worley made it clear that ultimately it is always about the price of the metals and potential by-products, as otherwise there is no business case. Tom Vöge (Gemeinsame Rücknahmesystem Servicegesellschaft mbH) pointed out that appropriate financial incentives must be created by legislators to prevent the EU from becoming dependent on foreign countries for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. 

Session 5 | Waste-To-Value and Carbon Capture

The last session of the conference focussed on ways to generate more added value from production-related waste in terms of sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint, thereby reducing landfill. The speakers focussed in particular on its use in the construction materials industry.

In his keynote speech, Dr David Algermissen (FEhS – Institut für Baustoff-Forschung e.V.) explained the metallurgical influence on iron and steel slags in order to ensure better applicability for the cement industry, as an example. These adjustments can be brought about on the one hand by adding lime or silica to the melt, and on the other hand by changing the cooling rates. Both methods influence or even improve the chemical and mineralogical properties of the slag, which reduces the amount of waste and increases the amount of by-products. 

The subsequent presentation by Prof Dr Jürgen Neubauer (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) dealt with the connection between the carbonation of cements and the reduction of CO₂ through to achieving a negative CO₂ footprint. By binding CO₂ in mineral phases such as carbonates, these goals can be achieved and thus represent effective CO₂ storage. This can be achieved, for example, by using magnesium-rich minerals such as olivine or serpentine minerals, as these also bind CO₂ through hydration reactions to form magnesium carbonates.

In the third presentation of the session, ITEL scholarship holder Julia Woskowski presented the results of her ongoing doctorate at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. In order to reduce the waste of lithium production from spodumene, she is researching the extent to which the leached spodumene roasting material is suitable for use as a supplementary cementation material (SCM). This would not only have the advantage of adding value to this material flow as a by-product instead of treating it as waste, but would also save clinker material and thus reduce the cement’s carbon footprint. The results presented show suitability for this purpose, but regulatory hurdles were also pointed out that currently prevent the material from being used for pozzolanic cements. 

In the subsequent panel discussion, Dr Andreas Neumann (ITEL) chaired the round of speakers, supplemented by Harald Schmitt (Knauf Gips KG) with a series of questions on the economic efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of the topics covered in the presentations. This also highlighted the importance of by-products from the lithium cycle and the independent possibilities for the cement industry, which not only offer potential for value creation, but can also reduce the carbon footprint. 

Thanks