by Lithium Hydroxide – Important Compound for Industries and Daily Applications
Introduction to Lithium Hydroxide
Lithium hydroxide or LiOH is an inorganic compound that has a white crystalline appearance. It is highly soluble in water and produces a strongly alkaline solution. Commercially, lithium hydroxide is produced through the reaction of lithium carbonate with calcium hydroxide. Some key properties and uses of lithium hydroxide are discussed below.
Uses in Battery Manufacturing
One of the most important uses of lithium hydroxide is in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries that power a wide range of portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools and electric vehicles. Lithium hydroxide is used to produce lithium cobalt oxide, which acts as the cathode material in these batteries. As lithium-ion batteries offer higher energy density and no memory effect, they have largely replaced nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries in most applications. The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries is directly driving the consumption of lithium hydroxide.
Role in Air Treatment Applications
Lithium hydroxide finds application as an air treatment chemical owing to its unique properties. It is used to remove carbon dioxide from enclosed atmospheres like submarines and spacecraft. As lithium hydroxide readily reacts with carbon dioxide to form lithium carbonate, it can effectively scrub out this gas from the air inside closed environments. This helps maintain a safe carbon dioxide level for the occupants. In industrial facilities, lithium hydroxide is employed to remove traces of carbon dioxide from air or other gas streams as part of air purification systems.
Uses in Glass Manufacturing
In the production of special types of glass, lithium hydroxide serves as an important flux and additive. It finds application in the manufacturing of telescope lenses, camera lenses, binocular lenses and other optical glasses. The presence of lithium helps reduce the viscosity of the molten glass mixture. It also increases the resistance of the finished glass to thermal shock. Other advantages include improvement in light transmission and refractoriness of the glass. Consequently, lithium hydroxide featured significantly in the production of high-quality optical glass.
Role as a pH Regulator
Due to its strongly alkaline nature, lithium hydroxide finds wide application as a pH regulator or pH adjuster. It is used to increase the pH of various solutions, compounds and systems. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, it is utilized to adjust and maintain the pH of active drug molecules, nutrients and other ingredients. It also performs pH adjustment in industrial processes involving chemicals, metals, electronics and more. Lithium hydroxide solutions offer better pH regulation than sodium or potassium hydroxide, and do not interfere with downstream processing.
Other Applications
Besides the major uses discussed above, lithium hydroxide has some other important industrial applications as well. It is used in the manufacture of lubricating greases, increasing their viscosity and water resistance. In nuclear technology, lithium hydroxide absorbs neutrons and hence serves as a moderator. It assists in controlling nuclear fission reactions. In organic synthesis, lithium hydroxide is employed as a strong base catalyst. It also acts as a flux for welding reactive metals like aluminum and magnesium. Some minor uses include as a stabilizer for polymers and precipitant for lanthanides and actinides recovery from nuclear waste.
Extraction and Production
Naturally occurring lithium compounds like spodumene and lepidolite serve as the primary sources for commercial lithium extraction. These minerals contain lithium bound with silica and aluminum. Lithium is separated via chemical reactions and transformations involving acids, bases and heat treatment. Further processing leads to production of battery-grade lithium compounds such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. These can be synthesized through reactions involving lime, carbon dioxide and brine solutions derived from salt lakes and confined aquifers. Commercially, lithium hydroxide is usually manufactured through the reaction of lithium carbonate with calcium hydroxide. Major lithium extracting companies employ large-scale processing facilities for this purpose.
Applications
In summary, lithium hydroxide has diverse industrial applications owing to its unique chemical properties. Major uses include in production of lithium-ion batteries, air purification, glass manufacturing, and pH regulation. Its demand is driven primarily by growing lithium battery consumption across various industries globally. Though naturally occurring, lithium compounds require substantial processing to produce the high purity lithium hydroxide used commercially. With new applications emerging constantly, the market for this versatile chemical is expected to grow steadily in the coming years.
