Lithium carbonate is an important inorganic chemical raw material, mainly used in the production of other chemical products, such as ceramics, glass, lithium batteries and so on. In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy industry, the demand for lithium carbonate is also growing. This paper will introduce the basic concept, properties, preparation methods, application fields, market prospects and related problems of lithium carbonate.

1. Basic concepts and properties of lithium carbonate

Lithium carbonate is a white powder with the formula Li2CO3 and a molecular weight of 73.89. It has the characteristics of high melting point, low solubility and easy purification. It is easy to absorb water and dehumidify in air, so it needs to be sealed and stored. Lithium carbonate is also toxic and needs to be safe when used.

2. Preparation method of lithium carbonate

There are two main methods for the preparation of lithium carbonate: basic carbonation and carbothermal reduction. Basic carbonation method is to mix spodumene and sodium carbonate according to a certain proportion, calcined at high temperature to produce leucite and sodium carbonate, and then dissolve leucite with water to obtain lithium hydroxide solution, and then add calcium carbonate to neutralize, to obtain lithium carbonate products. Carbothermal reduction method is to mix spodumene and carbon according to a certain proportion, reduce at high temperature, produce lithium iron and carbon monoxide, and then dissolve lithium iron with water, get lithium hydroxide solution, and then add calcium carbonate neutralization, get lithium carbonate products.

3. Application fields of lithium carbonate

Lithium carbonate is mainly used in the production of other chemical products, such as ceramics, glass, lithium batteries, etc. In the ceramic industry, lithium carbonate can be used to produce special ceramics with high strength and low expansion coefficient; In the glass industry, lithium carbonate can be used to produce special glass with low expansion coefficient and high heat resistance; In the lithium battery industry, lithium carbonate can be used to produce positive electrode materials, such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, etc.

4. Market prospects of lithium carbonate

With the rapid development of the new energy industry, the demand for lithium carbonate is also growing. In the future, with the rapid development of electric vehicles, smart grids and other fields, the demand for lithium carbonate will further increase. At the same time, with the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the production cost of lithium carbonate will gradually increase, so it is necessary to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly preparation methods, reduce production costs, and improve market competitiveness.

5. Lithium carbonate related issues

Lithium carbonate also has some problems in the production and use process. First of all, the production process of lithium carbonate will produce a lot of waste gas and wastewater, which has a certain impact on the environment. Secondly, lithium carbonate also has certain safety hazards in the process of use, such as flammable and explosive water. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to safety issues during use.

6. Conclusion

Lithium carbonate is an important inorganic chemical raw material, which has been widely used in many fields. In the future, with the rapid development of the new energy industry, the demand for lithium carbonate will further increase. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the research and development of lithium carbonate, improve production efficiency and product quality, reduce production costs and environmental pollution, and promote the sustainable development of lithium carbonate.