Abstract:Lithium extraction from ore resource is one of the main methods to prepare high-quality lithium products due to its high reaction efficiency and short production cycle. Spodumene is the most important lithium ore resource because of its high theoretical content of lithium oxide. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop efficient lithium extraction from spodumene for the sustainable development of lithium industry. The research status of typical lithium extraction processes from spodumene, including sulfuric acid method, limestone sintering method, sulfate method, chlorination roasting method, alkaline pressure boiling method and fluorine chemical method, were described. The reaction principle, process parameters and reaction efficiency of each lithium extraction process were thoroughly discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of existing processes were objectively analyzed and summarized, and the improvement prospects of lithium extraction process from spodumene were summarized. In addition, the latest research of phase transformation involved in the lithium extraction was also analyzed, and the formation of γ-phase and its influencing in the phase transformation were systematically discussed. It can provide theoretical guidance for the preparation of lithium products in a short process from α-spodumene or even without phase transformation.