Metso Strengthens Critical Minerals Offering with Advanced Lithium Carbonate Process for Battery Supply Chains

Metso Strengthens Critical Minerals Offering with Advanced Lithium Carbonate Process for Battery Supply Chains

(IN BRIEF) Metso has introduced the next generation of its lithium carbonate production process, a single-pass technology designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate with high yield, lower operating costs, and improved sustainability. The process supports growing lithium demand driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy integration, battery storage, and increasing production of lithium iron phosphate batteries. Metso’s enhanced process uses thermal and hydrometallurgical technologies, including soda pressure leaching and an improved carbonation-decarbonation stage, to refine spodumene into lithium carbonate in one pass while reducing process complexity and avoiding unwanted by-products such as sodium sulfate. The technology is intended to help customers lower capital costs, simplify plant design, improve operational stability, and accelerate ramp-up. Metso is also developing a circular metallurgy concept to regenerate chemicals used in the alkaline leach process, reinforcing its focus on more sustainable critical minerals processing. The new lithium carbonate process complements Metso’s existing lithium hydroxide technologies and strengthens the company’s end-to-end offering across the lithium value chain.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 26-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Metso is introducing the next generation of its lithium carbonate production process, a proven single-pass technology developed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate with high yield, lower operating costs, and improved sustainability performance.

The enhanced process expands Metso’s portfolio of lithium processing technologies and further strengthens the company’s position as a leading provider of solutions for critical minerals processing. These minerals play an important role in the global energy transition, particularly as demand continues to rise for battery materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and stationary energy storage.

Global demand for lithium is expected to increase in the coming years, supported by the electrification of transport, the wider integration of renewable energy, and the growing use of battery storage technologies. Metso’s lithium carbonate process has been designed to respond to this demand by enabling efficient, scalable, and reliable production of battery-grade materials. Interest in lithium carbonate production from mineral-based raw materials is also growing due to the expanding production of lithium iron phosphate batteries.

“We are pleased to introduce our enhanced lithium carbonate process to support customers and partners in lithium minerals related applications. By combining our proven thermal and hydrometallurgical technologies with our strong end-to-end flowsheet capabilities and local service support to maximize production, we can deliver high availability lithium processing plants while enabling efficient, safe, and reliable operations. This launch builds on our strong track record in hydrometallurgical technologies and further strengthens Metso’s ability to support customers across the lithium value chain,” said Marika Tiihonen, Technology Manager for Lithium at Metso.

Metso’s lithium carbonate process refines spodumene into battery-grade lithium carbonate in a single pass, reducing process complexity and avoiding unwanted by-products such as sodium sulfate. By limiting the number of process stages, the technology can help customers lower capital expenditure, improve operational stability, simplify plant design, and accelerate production ramp-up.

The company’s hydrometallurgical alkaline leach processes provide a simple and safe route for refining spodumene concentrate into battery-grade end products, including lithium carbonate. At the center of the process is soda pressure leaching, which allows lithium to be extracted selectively while reducing the presence of soluble impurities. The enhanced carbonation-decarbonation process produces battery-grade lithium carbonate in one pass, while the mineral residue exits the carbonation stage already neutralized, making disposal or reuse easier.

Metso is also testing and developing a circular metallurgy concept aimed at regenerating chemicals used in the alkaline leach process. This work supports the company’s broader focus on improving resource efficiency and advancing more sustainable processing routes for critical minerals.

The lithium carbonate process builds on Metso’s more than 20 years of experience in developing alkaline leaching technologies for hard rock lithium sources. It complements the company’s existing lithium technology portfolio, which also includes proprietary solutions for lithium hydroxide production.

Together, Metso’s lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide technologies provide customers with greater flexibility across the lithium value chain, from ore beneficiation to the production of battery-grade chemicals. The expanded offering is designed to help producers optimize their operations, improve efficiency, and adapt to changing market needs.

Metso continues to invest in research and development for sustainable critical minerals processing. Through these efforts, the company aims to help customers improve production efficiency, reduce emissions, and meet evolving regulatory, environmental, and market requirements.

Read more about Metso’s offering for the lithium carbonate process– Opens in a new window on our website.

Further information:  

Marika Tiihonen, Technology Manager, Lithium, Metso, tel. +358 40 126 0296, email: marika.tiihonen(at)metso.com

Metso Media Desk, tel. +358 20 482 1930, email: media(at)metso.com

Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. We improve our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increase their productivity, and reduce environmental risks with our product and service expertise. We are the partner for positive change.  

Metso is headquartered in Espoo, Finland. At the end of 2025 Metso had close to 18,000 employees in around 50 countries, and sales in 2025 were about EUR 5.3 billion. Metso is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. 

metso.com 

SOURCE: Metso