by LiOH is an inorganic compound composed of lithium and hydroxide. It is a white crystalline powder that is hygroscopic in nature, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air. LiOH has many important industrial and commercial uses primarily due to its highly alkaline properties. With a pH of around 13, Lithium Hydroxide solution is widely used as a strong base.
Uses of LiOH
Battery and Energy Storage Applications
Lithium Hydroxide finds its largest application in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries that power devices like smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles and more. During battery production, LiOH is used to isolate pure lithium needed for the battery’s cathode. It reacts with lithium carbonate to extract lithium metal. LiOH is also used as an electrolyte in some specialized batteries and grid energy storage systems relying on lithium-ion chemistry.
Air Purification
LiOH is utilized extensively in air purification systems onboard manned spacecraft and submarines due to its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It reacts with CO2 to form stable lithium carbonate salt and water vapor, helping maintain safe CO2 levels for astronauts and naval personnel. Some commercial and industrial air scrubbers also use Lithium Hydroxide to remove carbon dioxide from industrial exhausts and manufacturing facilities.
Glass and Ceramic Production
The strong alkalinity of LiOH makes it beneficial during glass manufacturing. LiOH introduces important properties like enhanced durability and chemical resistance to glass when added in small quantities. It also acts as a flux that aids melting of raw materials at lower temperatures. Lithium Hydroxide is sometimes mixed with other compounds to make special heat-resistant ceramics and insulation materials.
Metal Processing
As a strong base, LiOH solution plays various roles in metal production and treatment operations. It is used for pickling or cleansing metal surfaces by dissolving oxides and foreign particles. LiOH also facilitates some metal plating processes by neutralizing acidic solutions and maintaining the needed pH. In the aluminum industry, it aids the extraction of aluminum from bauxite ore.
Pharmaceuticals and Health
Being generally regarded as safe for human consumption, Lithium Hydroxide has niche pharmaceutical uses too. It is prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder when lithium ion therapy is recommended. LiOH also acts as an antidote for certain poisonings and drug overdoses. In the agricultural sector, LiOH manure is sometimes used as high-pH fertilizer especially for plants like blueberries.
Manufacturing Lithium Hydroxide
The dominant industrial route for manufacturing LiOH involves reacting lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a strong base like calcium hydroxide. In this process known as the hydrothermal carbonation method:
Li2CO3 + Ca(OH)2 → 2LiOH + CaCO3
Lithium carbonate reacts with slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) in an autoclave reactor at high pressures and temperatures. This yields LiOH and limestone as main products. Some variations involve using sodium or potassium hydroxide instead of calcium hydroxide.
Another process involves electrolysis of lithium chloride solution where lithium metal plates at the cathode and undergoes hydrolysis to produce Lithium Hydroxide:
2LiCl + 2H2O → 2LiOH + H2 + Cl2
No matter the production route, strict quality control is required due to LiOH’s hygroscopic nature and potential to pick up contaminants. The final product needs to meet high purity specifications for use in various industrial applications.
Applications of Byproducts
The byproducts generated during LiOH manufacture also have valuable applications. Calcium carbonate obtained from the hydrothermal carbonation process finds use as limestone in construction, cement production and paper filler. Chlorine gas produced during LiCl electrolysis is an important commodity chemical used to make PVC, chloroalkali products and more. Proper reuse and handling of manufacturing byproducts helps improve process sustainability and economics.
Safety Considerations
Being a strong base, Lithium Hydroxide solutions can cause severe eye and skin irritation on contact. Exposure to concentrated solutions requires protective gloves, clothing, eye shields and other personal protective equipment. Inhalation of dusts or mists should be avoided due to risk of respiratory irritation. Solid LiOH also presents a fire hazard in contact with combustible or reactive materials like organics, water and acids. Strict adherence to safety protocols and spill contingency measures are essential when working with this industrially important chemical compound.
Concluding Thoughts
From batteries powering the digital revolution to scrubbing CO2 in spacecraft, LiOH plays a critical albeit underappreciated role in our lives. With growing worldwide demand for its applications in energy storage, metal extraction and specialty ceramics manufacturing, LiOH production is projected to increase substantially in the coming decades. Continued process innovation aimed at improving yields and minimizing environmental impacts will be crucial to meeting rising needs of today’s high-tech global economy that relies heavily on this versatile strong base chemical.
“*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it”
