Method and apparatus for the electrochemical extraction of lithium from aqueous lithium sources

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the electrochemical extraction and recovery of lithium from aqueous lithium sources in an electrochemical cell comprising in a housing (1): a working electrode (3), a counter electrode (4) and an electrolyte (5, 6) separating the working electrode (3) and the counter electrode (4); wherein the working electrode (3) comprises a lithium storage material, a binder and an electrically conductive additive. In a lithium extraction step, dissolved lithium ions Li+ are electrochemically extracted by intercalating the dissolved lithium ions Li+ from an aqueous lithium source (5) which comprises the dissolved lithium ions Li+ and dissolved chloride ions Cl- into the lithium storage material of the working electrode (3) at a working potential of the working electrode (3) which is below the potential threshold for the formation of chlorine at the working electrode (3), while in the lithium recovery step extracted lithium ions Li+ are electrochemically recovered by deintercalating the lithium ions Li+ from the storage material of the working electrode (3) to an aqueous recovery solution (6).