Bredel hose pumps optimise lithium production process

A Bredel 65 pump at the mining company in Chile

Chile-based mining company meets rising demand for lithium with the help of Bredel

One of the largest producers of lithium in the world is benefiting from using Bredel hose pumps in its refining operations in Chile, with reduced leaks and downtime achieving cost savings at a time of expanding production.

To meet rising demand from the burgeoning lithium-ion battery market and amid the global push towards electrification of vehicles, the Chile-based mining company has recently increased its focus on lithium.

To ensure its production is at full capacity during this expansion, the mining company is using Bredel hose pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Solutions (WMFTS) at its lithium processing plant, where lime dosing is the main application. The peristaltic pumps have stopped leaks and cut maintenance downtimes that were experienced with an alternative pump principal which the mining company previously used, resulting in chemical costs savings.

The lithium extraction process in Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile which is surrounded by the Andes, begins with brine being pumped out of the ground and into evaporation ponds where the remaining brine is slowly enriched in lithium. Brines high in lithium content are then transported to the mineral processing and refining plant, where pure lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are produced. Lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are an essential input in the production of the cathode material in batteries used in transportation, energy storage and consumer devices.

The mining company has used WMFTS peristaltic pumps at its lithium processing site in Chile for the past six years and has recently increased the number it uses to over 50 Bredel and Qdos pumps.

Pablo Silva, Sales Engineer for WMFTS in Chile, said: “The reliability of the pumps has cut maintenance downtime and leakage in lime dosing compared to the centrifugal pumps . The company has expanded its lithium operations and Bredel pumps have been part of the increase in production. During the last two years when this company has doubled its production, Watson-Marlow has sold eight Bredel 65 pumps to them.”

Pumping lime

For lithium carbonate production, this Chile-based mining company uses Bredel 65 to transfer lime to the reactors, with a flow and discharge pressure of 8m3/h at 5 bar (2.2 litres/second at 72.5 psi) to:

• Avoid maintenance issues caused by lime solidification
• Eliminate leaks experienced with other pump technology 
• Ensure an accurate dose according to the pH required

The Bredel 65 also transfers lime during the production of lithium hydroxide from the reaction of lithium carbonate and lime, with a flow and discharge pressure of 12m3/h at 6 bar (3.3 litres/second at 87 psi).

During lithium sulphate production in the press filter, the mining company uses Bredel 40 pumps to transfer lithium sulphate at 2m3/h at 7 bar as the pump avoids leaks and has the ability to handle low flow rate with 30-40% solids.

Bredel is widely used in mining applications to transfer corrosive liquids, such as hydrochloric acid. The Chile-based mining company uses Bredel 25 and 32 models and a Watson-Marlow 621 close-coupled pump to pump hydrochloric acid in the lithium carbonate reactors to avoid expensive and toxic leaks, and to get the correct dose according to the process. Qdos 120 chemical metering and dosing pumps, from Watson-Marlow, are also used by the mining company to dilute salts at 90 l/h, 2 bar pressure.

Learn more about Bredel hose pumps in mining