LITHIUM RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

Processes for the recovery or purification of lithium species from various sources are described. Such sources include natural sources or deposits, such as in mining applications, and synthetic or non-natural sources, such as in the recycling of lithium species from batteries. In embodiments, the process comprises treating a LiSO-comprising aqueous solution with one or more barium salts to form a precipitate comprising barium sulfate (BaSO). In embodiments, the processes may further comprise the preparation of a lithium sulfate-containing solution via treatment of the starting material or mixture with sulfuric acid. In embodiments, further treatments may be performed, for example prior to and/or subsequent to treatment with one or more barium salts, for example for initial or further sulfate removal, and/or removal of other metal species that may be present. The recovered lithium species be used directly, or converted into other forms, for use in a variety of applications.