Development and characterization of a reference material for spodumene from brazilian litiniferous pegmatites

• Grant number: 23/16168-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mining Engineering - Ore Beneficiation
• Principal Investigator: Cassiana Seimi Nomura
• Grantee: João Manoel de Lima Júnior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The growing demand for new energy sources, including lithium batteries, has led to the beginning of a new era of exploration of sources of this element, the largest being brines and pegmatites. Among minerals, spodumene stands out for being the only one with an economically viable extraction route. Currently, around 70% of the world's lithium reserves are found in brines, located mainly between Chile and Argentina, 25% in pegmatites located mainly in Australia, totaling 95% of the world's reserves. According to recent geological surveys, Brazil has potential mineable reserves to become the holder of the 3rd largest world reserves of this element (8%). Due to its importance, in 2020, the European Commission included, for the first time, lithium on the list of critical raw materials. Considering an economically viable product, its added value will depend on its quality and therefore, analytical methods that enable rapid and accurate analysis are necessary. The quest for accuracy, however, depends on the availability of certified reference materials (CRM). In this sense, the present research project aims to produce a spodumene reference material for macro (Li, Al, Si) and microelements (Be, B, Nb, Ta, Cs, Rb, Ti, Fe, Sn, Na and K). Analytical parameters of the materials will be evaluated, such as particle size and its relationship with micro-scale homogeneity, particle segregation, analyte segregation, inter- and intra-bottle homogeneity. For characterization, analyzes by ICP OES will be used, after acid decomposition, and methods aimed at direct analysis by laser-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (LIBS).