A comprehensive application system of lithium extraction mother liquor produced by lithium extraction from spodumene
The integrated application system for lithium extraction from spodumene utilizes a portion of the mother liquor from the first evaporation for purification and resolution, solving the problems of long processing time and high energy consumption in existing technologies, and achieving energy savings and reduced production costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUINING SHENGXIN LITHIUM IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, during the lithium extraction process from spodumene, the mother liquor from the first evaporation is enriched and then used for slurry preparation in the roasting and leaching workshop, resulting in a long processing flow, high energy consumption, and increased production costs.
A comprehensive application system for lithium extraction from spodumene is adopted, including a purification unit, a denitrification unit, a first evaporation unit, a first centrifugation unit, a second centrifugation unit, a crude product remelting unit, and a carbonation thermal precipitation unit. By feeding part of the mother liquor from the first evaporation into the purification unit for impurity removal, and then using it to remelt the crude product from the first evaporation for secondary evaporation, the lithium content is increased, and the product is directly fed into the lithium carbonate production system.
It eliminates the need for complex and energy-intensive processing procedures, reduces energy consumption and production costs, increases lithium content, and simplifies the processing flow.
Smart Images
Figure CN224299317U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of first-distillation mother liquor utilization technology, specifically to a comprehensive application system for first-distillation mother liquor obtained from lithium extraction from spodumene. Background Technology
[0002] Lithium spodumene, with the chemical formula LiAlSi2O6, is a chain silicate mineral. In existing technologies, lithium extraction is usually carried out using the sulfuric acid method. The core principle is to transform the crystal form of lithium spodumene (α-type → β-type) through high-temperature calcination, and then react it with concentrated sulfuric acid to generate soluble lithium sulfate. Lithium is then extracted through leaching, purification, precipitation and other steps.
[0003] When extracting lithium from spodumene using the sulfuric acid method, the process typically includes pretreatment and crystal transformation, acid roasting and leaching, solution purification, evaporation and concentration, and lithium carbonate precipitation and post-treatment. After evaporation and concentration, the mother liquor from the first evaporation is usually returned to the roasting and leaching workshop for slurry preparation after it has been enriched to a certain extent. However, using the mother liquor from the first evaporation for roasting and leaching slurry preparation results in a long processing flow, high energy consumption, and thus increased production costs.
[0004] Based on the above description, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from spodumene lithium extraction that can reduce production energy consumption and shorten the processing flow. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a comprehensive application system for the first evaporation mother liquor obtained from lithium extraction from spodumene. This system aims to solve the technical problem in the prior art where the enriched mother liquor from the first evaporation is used for slurry preparation in the roasting and leaching workshop, which leads to a long processing flow, high energy consumption, and thus increased production costs.
[0006] The embodiments of this utility model are achieved through the following technical solutions:
[0007] A comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene includes a purification unit, a denitrification unit, a first evaporation unit, a first centrifugation unit, a second centrifugation unit, a crude product remelting unit, and a carbonization pyrolysis unit. The purification unit is connected to the denitrification unit; the denitrification unit is connected to the first centrifugation unit; the first centrifugation unit is connected to the first evaporation unit; the first evaporation unit is connected to the second centrifugation unit; the second centrifugation unit is connected to the crude product remelting unit; the crude product remelting unit is connected to the carbonization pyrolysis unit; and the second centrifugation unit is connected to the purification unit.
[0008] Preferably, the second centrifugal unit is connected to the denitrification unit.
[0009] Preferably, the denitrification unit includes an evaporator and a freeze crystallizer; the first evaporation unit is connected to the evaporator; the evaporator is connected to the freeze crystallizer; and the freeze crystallizer is connected to the first evaporation unit.
[0010] Preferably, the carbonization pyrolysis unit is connected to the third centrifugation unit; the liquid outlet of the third centrifugation unit is connected to the crude product remelting unit.
[0011] Preferably, the third centrifugation unit is connected to a neutralization unit; the neutralization unit is connected to the purification unit.
[0012] Preferably, a filter is provided between the neutralization unit and the purification unit.
[0013] Preferably, the third centrifugation unit is connected to the washing unit; the drain end of the washing unit is connected to the inlet end of the crude product remelting unit.
[0014] The technical solution of this utility model embodiment has at least the following advantages and beneficial effects:
[0015] The present invention differs from the traditional method of treating the first evaporation mother liquor in that, firstly, a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor is fed into a purification unit to replace part of the liquid alkali for impurity removal; secondly, a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor is fed into a crude product re-dissolving unit to re-dissolve the first evaporation crude product for secondary evaporation, thereby increasing the lithium content and facilitating direct input into the lithium carbonate production system. This eliminates the complex and energy-intensive processing procedures, saving energy and production costs. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system flow of this utility model.
[0017] Icons: 1-Purification unit, 2-Carbonization pyrolysis unit, 3-Denitrification unit, 4-First centrifugation unit, 5-Second centrifugation unit, 6-Crude product remelting unit, 7-Third centrifugation unit, 8-Neutralization unit, 9-Stabilizing unit, 10-First evaporation unit. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The specific implementation method is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019] Example 1
[0020] Please see Figure 1 This utility model provides the following technical solution: a comprehensive application system for producing first-distilled mother liquor from spodumene lithium extraction, applicable to the combination of spodumene lithium extraction system and lithium carbonate production system.
[0021] Specifically, such as Figure 1As shown, a comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene includes a purification unit 1, a denitrification unit 3, a first evaporation unit 10, a first centrifugation unit 4, a second centrifugation unit 5, a crude product remelting unit 6, and a carbonization pyrolysis unit 2. The purification unit 1 is connected to the denitrification unit 3; the denitrification unit 3 is connected to the first centrifugation unit 4; the first centrifugation unit 4 is connected to the first evaporation unit 10; the first evaporation unit 10 is connected to the second centrifugation unit 5; the second centrifugation unit 5 is connected to the crude product remelting unit 6; the crude product remelting unit 6 is connected to the carbonization pyrolysis unit 2; and the second centrifugation unit 5 is connected to the purification unit 1.
[0022] In this embodiment, after acid roasting, spodumene undergoes further leaching to obtain a leachate. The leachate is then passed into purification unit 1 for neutralization and impurity removal using soda ash solution, followed by filtration and then into a denitrification unit to remove sodium sulfate. The leachate is further separated into solid and liquid components by a first centrifuge unit 4. The separated solid enters the sodium sulfate production system, while the liquid is further filtered and sent to a first evaporation unit 10 for evaporation and concentration. After concentration, the liquid is separated by a second centrifuge unit 5 to obtain a first evaporation crude product and a first evaporation mother liquor. Unlike traditional first evaporation mother liquor treatment methods, in this embodiment, firstly, a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor is fed into purification unit 1 to replace some of the liquid alkali for impurity removal. Secondly, in this embodiment, the discharge end of the second centrifuge unit 5 is connected to the inlet end of the crude product resolution unit 6, allowing a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor to be fed into the crude product resolution unit 6 for resolution of the first evaporation crude product for secondary evaporation, increasing the lithium content for direct input into the lithium carbonate production system.
[0023] In short, compared to the traditional method of enriching the first evaporation mother liquor before feeding it into the initial roasting and slurry preparation, which requires further purification and denitrification processes, resulting in increased energy consumption and a longer processing time, this embodiment uses the first evaporation mother liquor to replace part of the liquid alkali in purification unit 1 for purification. At the same time, another part of the first evaporation mother liquor is used to redissolve the crude first evaporation product, increasing the lithium content in the second evaporation mother liquor so that it can be directly applied to the lithium carbonate production system. This not only eliminates the complicated processing steps but also reduces the production cost of lithium carbonate, saving energy and production costs.
[0024] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the second centrifugal unit 5 is connected to the denitrification unit 3.
[0025] In this embodiment, a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor separated in the second centrifugation unit 5 is fed into the denitrification unit 3. In conventional technology, the entire first evaporation mother liquor is usually pumped into the denitrification unit 3 for both recovering residual lithium and preparing sodium sulfate. However, pumping the entire first evaporation mother liquor into the denitrification unit 3 increases the load on the freeze-crystallization process. Furthermore, since the first evaporation mother liquor contains a large amount of impurities, the impurities accumulate rapidly in this process, increasing the cleaning frequency and cost. In this embodiment, a portion of the first evaporation mother liquor is used as an alkaline solution in the purification unit 1. This saves on the use of liquid alkali in the purification unit 1 and avoids the load on the freeze-crystallization process and the rapid accumulation of impurities in the denitrification unit 3, thus saving energy and time and effort.
[0026] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the denitrification unit 3 includes an evaporator and a freeze crystallizer; the first evaporation unit 10 is connected to the evaporator; the evaporator is connected to the freeze crystallizer; and the freeze crystallizer is connected to the first evaporation unit 10.
[0027] In this embodiment, the evaporator is preferably a low-energy MVR evaporator. The concentration is carried out by the MVR evaporator, and after further filtration, it is passed into a freeze crystallizer for crystallization. Finally, the Glauber's salt is separated by the first separation unit and used for the production of sodium sulfate.
[0028] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the carbonization pyrolysis unit 2 is connected to the third centrifugation unit 7; the outlet of the third centrifugation unit 7 is connected to the crude product remelting unit 6. The third centrifugation unit 7 is connected to a neutralization unit 8; the neutralization unit 8 is connected to the purification unit 1. The third centrifugation unit 7 is connected to a stirring and washing unit 9; the discharge end of the stirring and washing unit 9 is connected to the inlet end of the crude product remelting unit 6.
[0029] In this embodiment, part of the first evaporation mother liquor is dissolved in the crude product resolution unit 6 through the carbonization pyrolysis unit 2, followed by a second evaporation concentration. The second evaporation mother liquor is then separated and fed into the lithium carbonate production system. Lithium carbonate is prepared through the carbonization pyrolysis unit 2. The lithium carbonate is then fed into the washing unit 9, where it is washed multiple times with pure water in the washing tank. The mixture is further separated by a centrifuge, and the washing liquid from the first washing is passed into the crude product resolution unit 2 to replace the condensate used in that part.
[0030] In this embodiment, after the mother liquor from the pyrolysis is processed by the third centrifugation unit 7, three-quarters of it is directly fed into the crude product resolution unit 6 as a solvent for resolution, saving the use of condensate water, thereby saving evaporation energy consumption and reducing production costs; the remaining quarter of the pyrolysis mother liquor is fed into the neutralization unit 8 according to the original processing flow to remove carbonate and adjust the pH value to 3-4, and then fed into the purification unit 1 for use. Compared with the traditional method of neutralizing all the pyrolysis mother liquor before use, this embodiment uses most of the pyrolysis mother liquor to replace condensate water as a solvent for resolution of the first evaporation of crude product, which saves the complicated neutralization process and energy loss, and reduces the additional input of condensate water.
Claims
1. A comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene, comprising a purification unit (1) and a carbonization pyrolysis unit (2), characterized in that: It also includes a denitrification unit (3), a first centrifugation unit (4), a second centrifugation unit (5), and a crude product remelting unit (6); the purification unit (1) is connected to the denitrification unit (3); the denitrification unit (3) is connected to the first centrifugation unit (4); the first centrifugation unit (4) is connected to the first evaporation unit (10); the first evaporation unit (10) is connected to the second centrifugation unit (5); the second centrifugation unit (5) is connected to the crude product remelting unit (6); the crude product remelting unit (6) is connected to the carbonization pyrolysis unit (2); and the second centrifugation unit (5) is connected to the purification unit (1).
2. The comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second centrifugal unit (5) is connected to the denitrification unit (3).
3. The comprehensive application system for producing primary distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to claim 2, characterized in that: The denitrification unit (3) includes an evaporator and a freeze crystallizer; the first evaporation unit (10) is connected to the evaporator; the evaporator is connected to the freeze crystallizer; and the freeze crystallizer is connected to the first evaporation unit (10).
4. The comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to claim 1, characterized in that: The carbonization pyrolysis unit (2) is connected to the third centrifugation unit (7); the liquid outlet of the third centrifugation unit (7) is connected to the crude product remelting unit (6).
5. The comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to claim 4, characterized in that: The third centrifugation unit (7) is connected to a neutralization unit (8); the neutralization unit (8) is connected to the purification unit (1).
6. The comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to claim 5, characterized in that: A filter is provided between the neutralization unit (8) and the purification unit (1).
7. The comprehensive application system for producing first-distillation mother liquor from lithium extraction from spodumene according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: The third centrifugation unit (7) is connected to the agitation and washing unit (9); the discharge end of the agitation and washing unit (9) is connected to the inlet end of the crude product remelting unit (6).