After the atmospheric hydrochloric acid leaching method is used to treat laterite ore and initially purify it, the extract that results often contains a significant amount of Fe²⁺ impurities. A novel metallurgical process has been proposed that utilizes microbubble aeration to oxidize Fe²⁺ ions in laterite hydrochloric acid lixivium, facilitating subsequent separation and capitalizing on the benefits of microbubble technology, including its expansive specific surface area, negatively charged surface attributes, prolonged stagnation duration, and its capacity to produce active oxygen. The study examined the impacts of aeration aperture, stirring speed, oxygen flow rate, pH value, and reaction temperature. Under optimized experimental conditions, which included an aeration aperture of 0.45 µm, stirring at 500 rpm, a bubbling flow rate of 0.4 L/min, pH level maintained at 3.5, and a temperature range of 75–85 °C, the oxidation efficiency of Fe²⁺ surpassed 99%. An analysis of the mass transfer process revealed that microbubble aeration markedly enhances the oxygen mass transfer coefficient, measured at 0.051 s⁻¹. The study also confirmed the self-catalytic properties of Fe²⁺ oxidation and conducted kinetic studies to determine an apparent activation energy of 399 kJ/mol. At pH values below 3.5, the reaction is solely governed by chemical reactions; however, at higher pH values (>3.5), both chemical reactions and oxygen dissolution jointly control the reaction.

Lithium extraction from ores is the main source of lithium salts in China, and the development of green and efficient extraction technologies is an inevitable trend in the country’s lithium industry. Due to the limited availability of domestic lithium ore resources, the efficient utilization of low-grade ores and the development of extraction processes from non-traditional lithium resources will be essential for reducing costs and improving efficiency. This review summarizes the resource characteristics and mineral structures of typical lithium-bearing ores, examines recent advances in extraction processes for representative lithium deposits (spodumene, lepidolite) and discusses strategies for the efficient utilization of low-grade lithium ores (zinnwaldite, petalite, amblygonite, clay-type lithium ore, and jadarite). Finally, the research gap in life cycle assessment of lithium extraction processes from multiple types of lithium ores is addressed by providing a useful reference framework for the development and optimization of lithium extraction technologies from ores.