| Summary: |
The CAVALI project has for main objective the production of concentrates of lithium minerals, from the reserves that exist in concessions of the proponent, under a perspective of integral recovery of the minerals that exist in the ore (quartz, feldspar and, eventually, metallic minerals), thus driving to a process that does not generate solid wastes (tailings). This way, it becomes possible two attain the two main objectives assigned in the guiding principles of sustainable management of mineral resources: integral recovery and absence of wastes.
As second objective, the project intends to develop, up to the maximum limit considered as possible and feasible, the value chain of the production cycle of lithium-based batteries for electric vehicles, thus enhancing the maximisation of the added value resulting from the exploitation of the national resources of this metal. Portugal is currently the country with higher proven Li reserves on the European continent. To attain this objective, the project focuses on the stages of the production cycle most likely to be installed in Portugal, despite the universality and originality of the research themes:
- In the field of chemical analysis, the project proposes to improve the Lithium analyser by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS) currently existing on the market, providing a new functionality entirely innovative: discrimination of the Lithium from spodumene relatively to the one from other minerals, which is an extremely relevant factor for the exploitation of deposits with multiple minerals. INESC TEC will develop this activity. TRL: 4.
- Development of reference materials for lepidolite (currently only spodumene reference materials are commercially available). This objective is extremely relevant since most lithium reserves at European level are of this mineral. This objective will be pursued by the FCUP which will simultaneously support the characterisation of the lithium materials involved in the production cy  |
Summary
The CAVALI project has for main objective the production of concentrates of lithium minerals, from the reserves that exist in concessions of the proponent, under a perspective of integral recovery of the minerals that exist in the ore (quartz, feldspar and, eventually, metallic minerals), thus driving to a process that does not generate solid wastes (tailings). This way, it becomes possible two attain the two main objectives assigned in the guiding principles of sustainable management of mineral resources: integral recovery and absence of wastes.
As second objective, the project intends to develop, up to the maximum limit considered as possible and feasible, the value chain of the production cycle of lithium-based batteries for electric vehicles, thus enhancing the maximisation of the added value resulting from the exploitation of the national resources of this metal. Portugal is currently the country with higher proven Li reserves on the European continent. To attain this objective, the project focuses on the stages of the production cycle most likely to be installed in Portugal, despite the universality and originality of the research themes:
- In the field of chemical analysis, the project proposes to improve the Lithium analyser by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS) currently existing on the market, providing a new functionality entirely innovative: discrimination of the Lithium from spodumene relatively to the one from other minerals, which is an extremely relevant factor for the exploitation of deposits with multiple minerals. INESC TEC will develop this activity. TRL: 4.
- Development of reference materials for lepidolite (currently only spodumene reference materials are commercially available). This objective is extremely relevant since most lithium reserves at European level are of this mineral. This objective will be pursued by the FCUP which will simultaneously support the characterisation of the lithium materials involved in the production cycle;
- Development and optimisation of processing flowsheets for spodumene and lepidolite minerals including pilot-scale demonstration actions. LNEG will develop this activity; TRL: 6-7.
- In the field of metallurgy, the project aims to obtain a process of production of LiOH, which reconciles one of the processes currently existing for spodumene concentrates with a new process for lepidolite ores that will have in common as many unit operations as possible, allowing the simultaneous treatment of the two minerals in a single metallurgy. It should be noticed that presently only exist metallurgies for spodumene concentrates. This objective is entirely worldwide innovative and, if achieved, will allow creating the conditions for a unique Li metallurgy in Portugal to process concentrates from different deposits. This activity will be developed in FEUP by the Center for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA); TRL: 4.
- Computer programs will be developed that will allow the preliminary sizing of equipment for spodumene and lepidolite ore processing facilities, based on the flowsheets developed. The same applies to metallurgical processing. These programs will generate mass balances and from those the preliminary sizing, the consumption of reagents and energy and the estimate of the operative (OpEx) and the capital costs (CapEx), as well as the pre-feasibility of the exploitation of lithium orebodies. For this reason, they will also necessarily have to include the mining extraction phase. These programs are currently non-existent. The activity will be coordinated by the main propone |
| Results: |
Os principais resultados esperados como decorrentes das actividades geridas pela FEUP são os seguintes:
Actividade 4 – Metalurgia. Devem-se alcançar os seguintes resultados:
- Comparação de métodos de lixiviação ácida e alcalina, com e sem tratamentos prévios, para minérios de espodumena e de lepidolite; Seleção de processos de lixiviação compatíveis para a espodumena e para a lepidolite.
- Tratamento em fase líquida dos lixiviados por forma a purificar e concentrar as soluções;
- Métodos de Cristalização de LiOH das soluções purificadas e concentradas.
- Definição dum diagrama de processamento hidrometalúrgico integrado.
Actividade 6. Visam-se os seguintes resultados:
- Desenvolver protótipos de baterias “pouch” com pelo menos 400-500 Wh/kg e 1300 Wh/L a C/10, 3.8 V tensão nominal a 20ºC podendo operar na gama de temperaturas -30 a +80°C. >1000 ciclos, para uma eficiência até 80% à temperatura ambiente.
- Estudar e documentar o processo para poder patentear e desenvolver uma linha piloto de montagem à escala laboratorial.
- Formar alunos e publicar artigos visando a base teórica associada aos assuntos estudados.
Actividade 8. Análise do Ciclo de Vida. Os principais resultados a obter são os seguintes:
- Caracterizar duma forma objectiva os impactes ambientais potenciais que resultam da criação do ciclo produtivo, da mina à Metalurgia, a partir de recursos nacionais.
A FEUP participa ainda activamente na Actividade 5, juntamente com a empresa proponente principal. Esperam-se obter os seguintes resultados
1. Simulação – Criação dum programa informático que estima os balanços de massa e de energia para todas as operações unitárias envolvidas no diagrama de processamento;
2. Pré-dimensionamento – Criação dum programa informático que faz um pré- dimensionamento do equipamento principal envolvido no processamento de minérios;
3. Capex, Opex e viabilidade – Criação de programas informáticos que com base nos diagramas de processamento estabelecidos para o tratamento de minérios e para a metalurgia estime os custos operatórios de cada fase, o investimento requerido para uma determinada capacidade produtiva
4. Viabilidade Económica – Desenvolvimento dum programa informático que estima a viabilidade económica de projetos industriais baseados na tecnologia desenvolvida. |