The Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Lithium from Egyptian Montmorillonite-Type Clay

Abstract

Bentonite clays are present in Egypt in reserves at El-Fayoum and Cairo-Alexandria Desert. These deposits are a medium-grade ore with 40-60% montmorillonite and 20-30% kaolinite. The representative sample of El-Fayoum bentonites, with a chemical composition (in weight percent) of 54.7 SiO^sub 2^-12.4 MgO-5.2 Al^sub 2^0^sub 3^-5.2 K^sub 2^O-4.3 Fe^sub 2^O^sub 2^-4.2 F^sub 2^0-4.1 CaO-1.2Li^sub 2^O-1.1Na^sub 2^O, was applied to recover lithium.