Lepidolite as an emerging lithium resource: Recent advances in beneficiation and leaching toward sustainable extraction
Junhyun Choi, Jong-Won Choi
Abstract
Lepidolite has emerged as a significant alternative lithium resource amid the growing limitations of high-grade spodumene deposits. However, its beneficiation and extraction present considerable challenges due to its close association with gangue minerals such as quartz, albite, and feldspar, which share similar physicochemical properties. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in both the physical and chemical processing of lepidolite, with a focus on flotation and leaching technologies. In flotation, the limited selectivity of cationic collectors and the overlap of isoelectric points between lepidolite and associated gangue minerals hinder efficient separation. Recent developments involving mixed cationic-anionic collectors, surface modifiers, and nanobubble-assisted flotation have shown potential in improving Li 2 O recovery and grade. In the context of leaching, the review evaluates traditional acid-based methods, high-temperature sulfate roasting, alkali fusion, and bioleaching. Each approach is assessed in terms of efficiency, reagent consumption, and environmental impact. While the recovery of lithium from lepidolite is hindered by the mineral’s structurally complex and thermodynamically stable nature, this review proposes that such limitations can be overcome through advanced technologies and process integration, thereby enabling lepidolite to serve as a sustainable lithium resource.