World-first 17-tower system to extract rare metals from lithium waste unveiled

The Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ganfeng Lithium launched the world's first industrial line with a capacity of 500 tons per year to extract rubidium and cesium from lithium mining waste in Jiangxi province. The 17-column extraction unit recovers over 95% of rubidium and 98% of cesium, reducing solvent consumption by 40%.

• Line capacity 500 tons per year, rubidium and cesium carbonates over 99.9% pure
• 17 columns replace over 70 conventional tanks, solvent use 40% lower
• Over 95% rubidium and 98% cesium recovered from lithium mining waste
• China's total capacity for rubidium salts reached about 3,000 tons per year