In　this　study,　lithium　extraction　from　a　Li-rich　kaolin　is　performed　by　roasting　with　Na2SO4　and　water　leaching.　The　thermal　analysis　of　the　Li-rich　kaolin　is　characterized　by　TGA　and　DSC　analysis.　The　comparison　tests　are　conducted　through　roasting　alone　and　H2SO4　leaching,　in　the　aspects　of　ions　concentration,　Li　recovery　and　solid　wastes.　Under　Na2SO4　roasting　and　water　leaching,　84　%　of　Li　is　leached　out,　which　is　a　little　lower　than　the　H2SO4　method.　Meanwhile,　the　leached　Al　and　Fe　are　very　low,　which　is　highly　beneficial　to　the　purification　process.　After　precipitation,　a　Li2CO3　product　of　95　%　in　purity　is　obtained.　However,　for　the　H2SO4　method,　Li2CO3　is　hardly　obtained　because　the　Li　is　mainly　lost　in　the　purification　process.　And　the　process　pH　is　much　lower,　leading　to　a　high　amount　of　solid　wastes.　This　study　might　give　a　clue　for　the　lithium　recovery　from　Li-rich　kaolin　resources.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd