Lithium Brine Sorbent Reinforcement Against Strip-Washing Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium extraction methods using lithium-based sorbent materials face structural collapse when washed with high-water strip solutions, limiting their reuse and lithium recovery efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating reinforcing ions, such as silicates or aluminates, into the crystalline structure of lithium aluminum hydroxide crystals to maintain sheet separation and stability during the stripping process, allowing the use of high-water strip solutions without collapsing the crystalline structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If lithium-based sorbent materials are washed with high-water strip solutions to extract lithium, then lithium recovery efficiency is improved, but the crystalline structure collapses and the sorbent material cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining lithium aluminum hydroxide crystals with reinforcing ions (such as silicates or aluminates) to create a composite sorbent material. This composite structure allows the material to be washed with high-water strip solutions for efficient lithium recovery while the reinforcing ions maintain the crystalline structure's integrity, enabling reuse of the sorbent material across multiple cycles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sorbent material is reused after stripping, then operational cost is reduced, but the crystalline structure must maintain stability during washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating reinforcing ions into the crystalline structure before the stripping process begins. This pre-reinforcement ensures that when the sorbent material is subsequently washed with high-water strip solutions, the structure remains stable and intact, enabling multiple reuse cycles without structural collapse.
3Quantity of substance
If high-water strip solutions are used to wash the sorbent material, then lithium extraction completeness is improved, but the sheet separation distance is compromised and structure collapses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing reinforcing ions as mediator elements between the hexagonal sheets of the lithium aluminum hydroxide crystal structure. These reinforcing ions act as structural supports that maintain the sheet separation distance even when high-water strip solutions are used for thorough lithium extraction, preventing structural collapse while allowing complete lithium removal.
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
Enables the reuse of lithium-based sorbent materials by preventing structural collapse, enhancing lithium recovery and maintaining adsorption capacity even with high-water strip solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a composition is provided for extracting lithium from a brine
Implementation Method 2
lithium aluminum hydroxide crystals having a crystal structure of a plurality of hexagonal sheets
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions for extracting lithium from a brine, methods for utilizing compositions for extracting lithium from a brine, and/or methods for preparing a composition for extracting lithium from a brine. For example, a composition may include lithium aluminum hydroxide crystals having a crystal structure of a plurality of hexagonal sheets. In some instances, each of the plurality of hexagonal sheets includes one or more vacant sites. Moreover, the composition may include a plurality of reinforcing ions bonded to an outside edge of one or more of the plurality of hexagonal sheets. In some instances, the plurality of reinforcing ions supports the crystal structure of the plurality of hexagonal sheets when the composition is washed with a stripping fluid and maintains a separation distance between one or more of the plurality of hexagonal sheets.