Systems and methods use ion exchange to extract lithium from a lithium-containing feed solution such as a salar brine. Lithium ions are loaded into an ion exchange resin and then eluted while recharging the resin. Sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate may be used to recharge the resin but are not directly mixed with the lithium-containing feed solution. An eluate stream is produced containing lithium hydroxide or lithium bicarbonate. Lithium hydroxide can be precipitated as lithium hydroxide or in a hydrate form. Lithium bicarbonate may be converted to lithium carbonate. The system and method optionally includes processing an eluate stream to recover one or more compounds for re-use in regenerating the resin bed.