The invention relates to a method for efficiently extracting
lithium from
salt lake brine. The method comprises the following steps: (1) forming an extraction organic phase by an extraction agent, a co-extraction agent and a
diluent, and then mixing the extraction organic phase with
salt lake brine according to the volume ratio of (3-4):2 for three-stage extraction with single extraction time being 2-10 minutes to obtain an organic phase; and (2) mixing the organic phase obtained in step (1) with a reverse extraction acid solution (0-1 mol / L) for three-stage reverse extraction with single reverse extraction time being 2-10 minutes, and collecting an aqueous phase which is an
aqueous solution containing
lithium ions. The co-extraction agent of an extraction
system of the method is hydrophobic
ionic liquid, compared with conventional synergist
ferric trichloride, the interference caused by iron ions is avoided, the reverse extraction acidity is greatly reduced, more importantly the
lithium-
magnesium separation factor is significantly improved, and the
elution step of
magnesium ions is reduced; in addition, the method provided by the invention is easy in process, easy to control, high in operation reliability, and good in recyclability of the organic phase, and greatly reduces the production cost for extracting the lithium from the
salt lake brine.