Hi! I am currently working on a research assignment about lithium. I am trying to find out how it is extracted from the earth. Here is what i know so far:
In chilli, the largest producer of lithium in the world, lithium is extracted from brine (water which contains lithium salt) of the Salar De Atacma, the largest salt flat in chilli. The brine is pumped into large solar evaporation ponds. Over a 18-24 month period the brine is evaporated until there is a sufficient concentration of lithium salts. This lithium salt is then transported via truck or pipeline to processing plants where it is converted to usable salt products such as Lithium Carbonate.
What i don't understand is how you get metallic lithium. I hope someone can point me toward the right direction.
