Researchers develop a new process to extract lithium from rock

MIT researchers unveiled a new low-temperature process to extract lithium from hard rock ores such as spodumene using ammonium fluoride.

The method aims to cut energy use and waste versus conventional high-temperature roasting and sulfuric acid processing.

It can also yield useful byproducts like alumina and silica, improving resource efficiency.

Early estimates put the cost at about $5,000 per ton of lithium, below roughly $9,000 for traditional methods.