Lithium Selective Adsorbent Manufacturing via Recycled Intercalation Liquor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and environmental impact of traditional lithium selective adsorbent manufacturing processes due to excess lithium salt usage and waste management issues in lithium-ion battery applications, particularly in aluminum-based adsorbents, necessitate a more efficient and economical method for lithium recovery.
Innovation Solution
A process that recycles and augments the intercalation reaction liquor to efficiently convert crystalline aluminum trihydroxides (Al(OH)3) to lithium aluminum double hydroxide (LADH) using a recycled intercalation reaction liquor, which involves intercalating an adsorbent precursor with lithium under alkaline conditions, decanting, neutralizing, and reconstituting the liquor for subsequent use, thereby reducing lithium losses and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If excess lithium salts are employed to drive intercalation processes, then the conversion of Al(OH)3 to lithium selective adsorption media is improved, but lithium losses and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers lithium from the intercalation reaction liquor that would otherwise be discarded as waste. The process involves decanting the reaction liquor after intercalation, treating it to remove solids, and recycling it for subsequent intercalation cycles, thereby recovering valuable lithium and reducing losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous recycling of the intercalation reaction liquor across multiple batches. Instead of discarding the liquor after each use, it is continuously reused and replenished with fresh lithium salt, maintaining continuous useful action and reducing overall lithium consumption.
2Productivity
If excess lithium salts are used in traditional manufacturing methods, then intercalation process drives forward, but waste management costs and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents waste discharge by recovering and recycling the intercalation reaction liquor that contains unreacted lithium salts. This eliminates the need to discard lithium-containing waste streams and reduces environmental impact while maintaining production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts what would be harmful waste discharge into a beneficial resource by recycling the lithium-containing reaction liquor. The 'harmful' waste stream is transformed into a valuable原料 that can be reused, turning an environmental problem into an economic and ecological benefit.
3Loss of substance
If the amount of lithium salt is reduced in manufacturing, then cost decreases, but intercalation conversion efficiency may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains effective lithium concentration throughout the process by continuously recycling and replenishing the reaction liquor. This continuous approach ensures that sufficient lithium is available for complete intercalation conversion while minimizing overall lithium consumption through multiple uses of the same liquor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using diluted reaction liquor with replenished lithium salt concentration rather than discarding and starting fresh. This parameter change allows maintaining conversion efficiency while reducing total lithium input through concentration management across recycling cycles.
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 process significantly reduces lithium chloride usage and waste treatment costs, achieving substantial lithium savings and maintaining high-quality LADH adsorbent production through multiple recycling cycles, making the manufacturing process more economically and environmentally viable.
Implementation Method 1
The process intercalates an initial quantity of an adsorbent precursor with lithium under alkaline conditions at a predetermined intercalation temperature using a pre-intercalation reaction volume of an intercalation reaction liquor to produce an intercalated layered aluminate adsorbent
Implementation Method 2
The post-intercalation reaction volume of the partially depleted intercalation reaction liquor is decanted from the intercalated layered aluminate adsorbent to obtain a decanted intercalation reaction liquor
Implementation Method 3
The intercalated layered aluminate adsorbent is then neutralized under acidic conditions at a predetermined neutralization temperature to produce the lithium selective adsorbent
Data Source
AI summary
This invention generally relates to a process for manufacturing a lithium selective adsorbent and, more particularly, to a process for manufacturing a lithium selective adsorbent using a recycled and augmented intercalation reaction liquor. An initial quantity of adsorbent precursor is intercalated with lithium using an intercalation reaction liquor to produce an intercalated layered aluminate adsorbent and a post-intercalation reaction liquor. The post-intercalation reaction liquor is decanted, and the intercalated layered aluminate adsorbent is neutralized to produce the lithium selective adsorbent. The decanted intercalation reaction liquor is reconstituted to a pre-intercalation reaction volume of the intercalation reaction liquor, which is recycled to intercalate a subsequent quantity of adsorbent precursor.