The conventional process of lithium extraction from α-spodumene (LiAlSiO) is energy-intensive and associated with high byproduct management cost. Here, we investigate an alternative process route that uses potassium sulfate (KSO) to extract lithium while producing leucite (KAlSiO), a slow release fertilizer. Presenting the first-ever in situ record of the reaction of α-spodumene with potassium sulfate, we use synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to document the reaction sequence during prograde heating.
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