Comparing Leaching Efficiency of Novel Deep Eutectic Solvent with Mineral Acids: Spodumene Ore

This study gives a comparison of leaching efficiency for lithium extraction from spodumene mineral with hydrochloric acid, aqua regia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and a novel eutectic solvent. Operational conditions under investigation are solid–liquid ratio temperature, stirring speed, and particle size. The reagents and products are characterized by field emission scanning electronic microscopy along with energy dispersive spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and flame emission spectroscopy. The leaching efficiency was observed by maintaining parameters such as solid–liquid ratio 1:5, temperature variation from 30 to 90 °C, stirring speed 500 rpm, and particle size 100 ppm and 10 ppm. Leaching efficiency from aqua regia is observed to be maximum as compared with hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and the novel eutectic solvent.