In the global salt lake lithium extraction industry, lithium recovery is not only a technical indicator but also a key factor determining project economics and core competitiveness. Under complex brine conditions such as high Mg/Li ratios, high impurity levels, and low lithium concentrations, conventional single-process approaches generally suffer from high lithium loss, incomplete impurity removal, and low resource utilization, directly undermining project returns.
As an integrated solution provider for salt lake lithium extraction, BICHEM adheres to a “recovery-first” philosophy. By innovatively developing a deeply integrated multi-process technology system, combined with full-process pre-treatment, impurity removal, concentration, and refining technologies, the overall lithium recovery rate has been stably increased to above 95%, with core processes exceeding 98%. Through technological innovation, BICHEM maximizes the value of lithium resources, enhances overall project economics, and delivers high-return and highly stable lithium resource development solutions to global clients.
BICHEM’s process flow chart
Complementary advantages of BICHEM’s core technologies
With years of expertise in salt lake lithium extraction, BICHEM has established a full-chain technology matrix covering lithium-rich mother liquor recovery, brine pre-treatment, freshwater recovery, membrane-based lithium extraction, adsorption-based lithium extraction, and solvent-based lithium extraction. This integrated ecosystem is centered on achieving high recovery rates. Breaking away from the limitations of single-process approaches, BICHEM adopts an innovative coupled process combining adsorption + membrane separation + solvent extraction. By integrating the strengths of selective adsorption, high-precision membrane separation, and efficient solvent extraction, the system minimizes lithium loss and maximizes recovery across the entire process from raw brine feed and impurity removal to lithium concentration and final product refining.
1. Adsorption-based process
BICHEM utilizes high-performance adsorption materials such as open-cell foam glass loaded with lithium-ion sieve fillers, high-adsorption resins, and adsorption microspheres. These materials exhibit strong selectivity for lithium ions, enabling preferential capture even in high-magnesium and high-impurity brines, thereby significantly reducing lithium loss. Combined with proprietary stirring adsorption devices, dedicated adsorption reactors, and processing equipment, the system enables continuous and automated adsorption – desorption – regeneration cycles. This ensures stable adsorption efficiency and reliable operation, forming the foundation for high recovery.
Lithium extraction adsorbent
2. Membrane separation process
Membrane technology serves as the core support for BICHEM’s high recovery performance. We have developed a range of key technologies, including membrane-based Li/Na separation, electrodialysis (ED) impurity removal, bypass RO membrane regeneration, and high-efficiency catalytic hydrogel filtration membranes, forming a comprehensive membrane-based lithium extraction solution. The membrane process features strong operational stability and enables continuous and automated production, with lithium recovery exceeding 97%, while also offering low water consumption and high product purity. For carbonate-type salt lakes, BICHEM’s ED process enables simultaneous removal of boron and silica, reducing lithium loss to below 0.5%, lowering resin costs by 20%, and increasing water recovery by 10–30%. This further minimizes lithium loss while enhancing overall system stability.
RO experiment
3. Solvent extraction process
For complex brine systems and mother liquor recovery scenarios, BICHEM’s solvent extraction technology plays a critical role. The company has developed multi-stage countercurrent solvent extraction and mixed clarification tank extraction processes, supported by specialized pipeline filtration and waste treatment systems to achieve precise lithium separation. The solvent extraction process features low energy consumption and significant water savings, making it particularly suitable for salt lake development in arid regions. Lithium recovery exceeds 95%, with product lithium concentration reaching over 28 g/L and extremely low impurity levels. Supporting systems, including dedicated filtration units, pipeline valves, and waste purification systems, effectively prevent solvent entrainment and lithium loss, further enhancing overall recovery.
Solvent experiment
Full-process optimization
Achieving industry-leading recovery rates relies not only on the core technologies but also on BICHEM’s full-chain process optimization:
1. Three-stage reaction pre-treatment of brine combined with circulating flocculation and filtration removes impurities in advance, protecting downstream core equipment and improving overall extraction efficiency;
2. pH adjustment for silica removal and membrane-based boron recovery reduce impurity interference with lithium;
3. Graded crystallization processes for battery-grade lithium carbonate and high-purity lithium hydroxide further enhance lithium utilization during crystallization, achieving recovery rates above 95%;
4. Membrane filtration systems for lithium-sodium separation in lithium-rich mother liquor, coupled with solvent-membrane recovery systems, enable zero mother liquor loss and full lithium recovery;
5. Freshwater recovery systems for membrane-based lithium extraction processes recover lithium from wastewater, ensuring maximum utilization of lithium resources across the entire process.
Higher recovery drives higher economic returns
Salt lake brines are compositionally complex, with impurities such as magnesium, boron, silica, and calcium significantly affecting lithium extraction efficiency. A single process cannot simultaneously achieve high selectivity, high purity, and high recovery. Industry data indicate that each 1% increase in lithium recovery can generate millions in additional annual revenue for large-scale projects. A 5% to10% difference in recovery can result in a substantial gap in project profitability. Through multi-process integration, BICHEM converts high recovery into tangible economic benefits for clients:
1. Maximized resource utilization: Higher lithium output under the same brine conditions, directly increasing project revenue;
2. Reduced unit production cost: Higher recovery spreads material, energy, and labor costs;
3. High-value by-products: Simultaneous recovery of boric acid, borax, bromine, and lithium metal expands revenue streams;
4. Environmental and compliance advantages: Reduced emissions and improved water recovery lower environmental costs.
Setting an industrial benchmark with high recovery
In an era of surging global demand for lithium resources driven by the energy transition, recovery defines competitiveness and profitability. Leveraging decades of R&D and engineering experience, BICHEM achieves full-chain control from brine pre-treatment to product crystallization and from mother liquor recovery to wastewater resource utilization, minimizing lithium loss at every stage. With deep multi-process integration at its core, combined with full-process optimization and strong engineering capabilities, BICHEM continues to push the limits of lithium recovery in salt lake extraction. Our industrialized, standardized, and highly stable solutions enable the delivery of high-return, high-stability, and sustainable lithium extraction projects.
High recovery is not only a reflection of technological leadership but also directly translates into lower unit costs, higher project returns, and shorter payback periods. It is also the core competitiveness of BICHEM’s solutions in the global market. Looking ahead, BICHEM will continue to be driven by technology and guided by recovery performance, leading the global salt lake lithium extraction industry toward higher efficiency, greater profitability, and improved resource utilization, and becoming a trusted partner for lithium resource development worldwide.
