Selective Material Recovery from Natural Brines via CO2 Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating materials from natural geothermal brines are time-consuming, energy-intensive, and costly, involving large evaporation ponds and carbonation processes that consume significant amounts of energy and produce CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating a natural brine to specific temperatures, adding CO2 to control the CO2/P ratio within a vessel, holding the mixture for predetermined times to precipitate solids, and separating the selected materials, which reduces energy consumption and production costs while minimizing CO2 emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional evaporation ponds and carbonation processes are used, then selected materials can be recovered from natural brines, but the process consumes excessive energy and produces CO2 emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the brine by controlling pH through CO2 addition and temperature variations. This enables selective precipitation of materials at different stages without requiring energy-intensive evaporation or multiple carbonation steps, directly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions through controlled precipitation processes. By adjusting temperature and pH, materials transition from dissolved state to solid precipitate form, enabling separation without evaporation. This eliminates the need for football field-sized evaporation ponds and reduces energy consumption significantly
2Productivity
If traditional carbonation processes are used, then selected materials can be produced, but the process requires multiple carbonation steps and various solid additives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recovery process into distinct temperature and pH control stages. First, impurities are precipitated at lower temperatures; then selected materials are precipitated at higher temperatures with controlled CO2 addition. This segmentation enables selective recovery without requiring multiple carbonation steps or various solid additives
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding multiple solid additives to achieve precipitation as in traditional carbonation processes, the patent inverts the approach by using controlled CO2 addition and temperature adjustment to achieve the same precipitation effect. This simplifies the process by replacing complex chemical additive systems with physical parameter control
3Productivity
If traditional leaching processes are used, then materials can be extracted from brines, but the process takes 18-24 months and consumes significant time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary concentration of the brine before the precipitation process. By pre-concentrating the brine, the subsequent temperature-controlled precipitation occurs much faster than traditional leaching. This preliminary action reduces the overall process time from 18-24 months to a significantly shorter duration while maintaining high recovery efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces the time, energy, and costs associated with material generation from natural brines, achieving high purity (>99.0%) and efficiency in recovering selected materials like lithium and rare earth elements with lower environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
Heating a natural brine in a vessel to a first predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
Adding CO2 into the vessel whereby the CO2 mixes with the natural brine forming a mixture
Implementation Method 3
Holding the mixture for a first predetermined time after the CO2 addition such that a solid is precipitated from the mixture
Implementation Method 4
Heating the second brine to a second predetermined temperature. Adding CO2 into the vessel whereby the CO2 mixes with the second brine forming a second mixture such that the CO2/P is a second predetermined value. Holding the second mixture for a second predetermined time after the CO2 addition such that the selected material is precipitated from the second mixture
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to methods for generating selected materials from a natural brine. A natural brine comprising at least a portion of a selected material is heated. CO2 is added and mixes with the natural brine forming a mixture such that the CO2/P is a first predetermined value. The mixture is held so that impurities in the natural brine precipitate as solids leaving a second brine substantially comprising the selected material. The second brine is heated. CO2 gas is injected into the second brine, mixing so that the CO2/P is a second predetermined value. The mixture is held so that the selected material precipitates out and are removed.