Metso is introducing the next generation of its lithium carbonate production process, a proven single-pass technology designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate with high yield, low operating costs, and in a more sustainable way. The enhanced process contributes to Metso’s portfolio of lithium processing solutions and strengthens its position as a leading provider of technologies for processing critical minerals essential to the global energy transition.

Global lithium demand is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by the electrification of transport, renewable energy integration, and the adoption of battery storage. Metso’s lithium carbonate process addresses this demand by enabling efficient and scalable production of battery-grade materials.

Metso’s lithium carbonate process refines spodumene to battery-grade lithium carbonate in one pass, avoiding processing complexity and undesired by-products, such as sodium sulfate. By minimizing the number of process steps, customers benefit from lower capital costs, improved operational stability, simplified plant design, and faster ramp-up.

Metso’s hydrometallurgical alkaline leach processes offer simple and safe ways to refine spodumene concentrate to battery-grade end products, such as lithium carbonate. At the core of the process is soda pressure leaching, which enables extraction of lithium selectively with less soluble impurities.