リチウムの資源, 生産, 応用

抄録

This paper deal the source, production, and application of lithium. Lithium is the lowest atomic-weight alkali metal, lowest density among metals, and really active in an open atmosphere.
The sources of lithium are found as Spodumene, Lepidolite, Petalite, and Amblygonite mainly in Africa and North America. Of those ores, spodumene is only used for lithium chemicals. Brine welled from spar or lake is also the source of this element.
In the 2'nd World War, metal, hydroxide, and hydride of lithium were consumed for military use. Production of lithium hydroxide boomed up for a stock-pile of ⁶Li by US · AEC in 1950s.
There are two ways in production process for lithium chemicals. First is “acid-process”, in which the are (spodumene) is roasted with sulfuric acid to extract lithium value in followed stages and to recover as carbonate. Second is called “limeprocess” and currently not applied.
Two major producers of lithium carbonate in the Western World are Lithium Corp. of America and Foote Mineral Co., both in USA. Lithium carbonate is sold to other producers, as a starting-material for lithium chemicals. Brine-processing facilities at Atacama, Chile is reported to start in 1984.
The details of production in USSR and China are not disclosed. Lithium chemicals are widely used in many industries (ceramic, glass, flux, air-conditioning, alloy, brazing, aluminum, grease, organic synthesis, paint, battery, and electronics) and home-keeping (sanitary, bleach, and deodrant) at present, demonstrating its usefullness for these years and its potential in future.
Lithium can be used as a blanket material of nuclear fusion reactor to breed “Tritium” effectively.