![]() The 99.95% Li-7 hydroxide is used in nuclear power engineering as an additive in PWR primary coolant, at about 2.2 ppm, for maintaining water chemistry, counteracting the corrosive effects of boric acid (used as neutron absorber) and minimizing corrosion in steam generators of PWRs. As a fluoride, it is also expected to come into much greater demand for molten salt reactors (MSRs). However, for both purposes it must be very pure Li-7, otherwise tritium is formed by neutron capture (see later section). As hydroxide it is necessary in small quantities for safe operation in pressurised water reactor (PWR) cooling systems as a pH stabilizer, to reduce corrosion in the primary circuit. ![]() Lithium-7 has two important uses in nuclear power today and tomorrow due to its relative transparency to neutrons. Lithium has two stable isotopes Li-6 and Li-7, the latter being 92.5% in nature (hence relative atomic mass of natural lithium of 6.94). By 2020 automotive batteries are projected to require about five times as much lithium as in 2016. Most brine production, though lower-cost, does not meet battery-grade specification (99.5% pure Li carbonate) so needs to be upgraded.Ībout 40% of lithium production is used in batteries – about 15% being in automotive batteries, and an increasing amount in grid storage. In 2015 production was evenly split between brines and hard rock. Lithium is the lightest metal, which occurs in several hard rock types, notably spodumene, and in brines, hence it is often mined in salt lakes, particularly in South America.
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