Investigation and Evaluation of the Suitability of By-Products of Spodumene Processing for the Building Materials Industry

The most common method of obtaining lithium from spodumene is by extracting it through a chemical treatment process, which produces various by-products, including aluminosilicates and a gypsum-like material. Instead of disposal, various applications for these products are feasible, depending on their properties. Therefore, two such by-products from an industrial processing plant were investigated for their mineralogical and physical properties with respect to different application options. The aluminosilicate was used as an additive for cement and concrete, demonstrating that even an addition of up to 20 wt. % to ordinary Portland cement does not reduce strength or negatively affect the setting behaviour. The use of the gypsum material as a setting control additive also showed no disadvantages. Both materials appear to be promising raw materials for the building materials industry.