Methods for regenerating salt tanks

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for regenerating a brine bath composition, including heating the brine bath composition to an ion exchange temperature to produce a molten brine bath. These methods may also include bringing at least a fraction of an ion-exchangeable article containing lithium oxide (Li₂O₄) into contact with a molten brine bath. Lithium cations may diffuse from the ion-exchangeable article into the molten brine bath. Additionally, these methods may involve adding primary phosphate salts to the molten salt bath. Lithium phosphate salts containing at least some lithium cations can be produced and precipitated from the molten salt bath. Furthermore, these methods may involve adding polyvalent salts containing polyvalent metal cations to the molten salt bath. Secondary phosphate salts containing polyvalent alkali cations can be produced and precipitated from the molten salt bath.