Lithium Adsorbent Material for Brine Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting lithium from saline solutions face challenges due to the difficulty in selectively separating lithium from other metals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and boron, resulting in low lithium adsorption capacity and mechanical strength of the solid materials used, which leads to increased production costs and lithium loss in effluents.
Innovation Solution
A method for preparing a crystallized solid material of formula (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O through boehmite precipitation under specific temperature and pH conditions, followed by acid kneading and extrusion shaping, enhancing lithium adsorption capacity and kinetics while reducing lithium chloride usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to extract lithium from saline solutions, then lithium can be separated from other metals, but the adsorption capacity and mechanical strength of the solid materials are low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the solid material by incorporating lithium chloride into the aluminum hydroxide structure to form (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O. This compositional parameter change simultaneously improves both the lithium adsorption capacity (by providing lithium sites in the crystalline layers) and the mechanical strength of the material, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite solid material structure where lithium chloride is integrated within the aluminum hydroxide matrix. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit enhanced properties: the aluminum hydroxide provides structural integrity (mechanical strength) while the lithium chloride components provide lithium adsorption sites, thus achieving both high adsorption capacity and mechanical strength simultaneously.
2Quantity of substance
If more lithium chloride is used in the solid material preparation, then adsorption capacity increases, but production cost increases and lithium loss in effluents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the lithium chloride content parameter within a specific range (x between 0.4 and 1 in the formula (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O). This optimized parameter setting achieves sufficient lithium adsorption capacity while minimizing excess lithium chloride that would otherwise be lost in effluents, thus reducing both production costs and environmental loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates lithium adsorption sites within the aluminum hydroxide structure itself, rather than relying on excess external lithium chloride. The lithium sites are embedded in the crystalline layers of the material, allowing efficient lithium capture from saline solutions without requiring large amounts of lithium chloride that would be wasted in the effluent stream.
3Productivity
If conventional solid materials are used, then lithium extraction can be performed, but the production cost increases due to low adsorption capacity requiring more material
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of the solid material to (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O with optimized x and n values. This parameter optimization increases the lithium adsorption capacity per unit mass of material, meaning less solid material is required to achieve the same lithium extraction throughput, thereby improving productivity while reducing material consumption and associated costs.
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
The method produces a solid material with improved lithium adsorption capacity, mechanical strength, and selectivity, reducing lithium loss and production costs by using a smaller amount of lithium chloride, and maintaining cohesion and integrity during lithium extraction from brine solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The solid materials of formula (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O, wherein n and x have the above definition are known for their use in the phenomena of adsorption/desorption of lithium ions
Implementation Method 2
These unstable structures allow the intercalation of lithium atoms in the structure and thus the extraction of lithium
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of solid materials for the adsorption of lithium. In particular, the present invention relates to a new method for the preparation of a crystallized and shaped solid material, preferably in extruded form, of the formula (LiCl)x.2Al(OH)3,nH2O, wherein n is between 0.01 and 10, x is between 0.4 and 1, wherein it comprises a step a) of precipitation of boehmite under specific temperature and pH conditions, a step of bringing into contact the precipitate obtained with LiCl, at least one acid extrusion-kneading shaping step, wherein the method also comprises a final hydrothermal treatment step, all of which makes it possible to increase the lithium adsorption capacity, the adsorption kinetics, as well as the lithium/boron selectivity of the materials obtained with respect to the materials of the prior art, when it is used in a lithium extraction method of saline solutions.