Lithium Extraction Apparatus with Electrical Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lithium extraction methods face challenges such as carry-over and carry-under in scrubbing and stripping columns, which reduce separation effectiveness, and scaling issues due to the complexity and cost of tall towers, necessitating the development of new apparatus and methods for efficient lithium recovery from aqueous sources.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a lithium extraction apparatus comprising a solvent contactor, an electrical separator, and an extractor, utilizing membrane filtration to remove divalent ions, counter-current solvent extraction, and an electrical separator to enhance phase separation, along with a de-complexing section using sulfuric acid to produce lithium sulfate, allowing for efficient lithium recovery and scalable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional scrubbing and stripping columns are used for lithium extraction, then lithium recovery is achieved, but separation effectiveness is reduced due to carry-over and carry-under
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the extraction process into distinct stages: a solvent extraction stage using pulsed columns for intimate mixing and mass transfer, followed by a separate dehydration stage using a perforated plate column. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, preventing carry-over and carry-under issues that occur when mixing and separation occur in the same column.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the dehydration function from the traditional scrubbing/stripping column system and implements it as a separate perforated plate column. This takes out the separation function and places it in a dedicated device, improving overall separation effectiveness by preventing aqueous carry-over into the stripped lithium product.
2Productivity
If taller towers are built to increase extraction capacity, then processing volume increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from vertical scaling (taller towers) to horizontal scaling by using multiple pulsed columns in parallel or series configurations. The perforated plate column provides a different dimensional approach to separation, allowing capacity increases without proportionally increasing tower height and associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic pulsing to the solvent extraction columns, creating time-varying flow patterns that enhance mass transfer efficiency. This dynamic operation allows smaller, less complex columns to achieve the same extraction capacity that would require much taller static columns, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity.
3Productivity
If series towers are used to increase capacity, then extraction volume increases, but piping, valving, and pumps become expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the extraction and dehydration functions into an integrated two-stage system where the output of one stage directly feeds the next. The pulsed solvent extraction column and perforated plate dehydration column are designed to work together as a unified process train, reducing the need for complex intermediate piping, valving, and pumping infrastructure that would be required for separate series towers.
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 approach achieves high lithium recovery efficiency with minimal environmental impact, reduces aqueous content in the solvent, and allows for easier scaling of the extraction process, addressing the limitations of existing methods by improving separation effectiveness and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical separator comprising a vessel fluidly coupled to the loaded solvent outlet, the vessel having an electric field assembly disposed in an interior thereof and electrically coupled to a time-varying voltage power unit
Implementation Method 2
A lithium extraction solvent is contacted with a lithium-bearing brine in a pulse column. The solvent and brine counter-flow through the column, and hydraulic pulses are applied to shear the fluids into small domains that intimately contact to extract lithium from the aqueous phase into the organic solvent.
Implementation Method 3
removing divalent ions from the aqueous source by subjecting the aqueous source to a first membrane filtration process
Implementation Method 4
an extractor fluidly coupled to the loaded solvent outlet of the electrical separator, the extractor having a loaded solvent inlet, an unloaded solvent outlet, and a slurry outlet, with a sulfuric acid source coupled to the extractor
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for lithium extraction from aqueous sources are described herein. Divalent ions are removed using staged membrane separation. The aqueous source is subjected to a solvent extraction process that extracts lithium. Aqueous and organic phases of streams produced by the solvent extraction process are separated using electrical and/or gas flotation separation. The solvent is de-complexed to unload lithium. Streams produced by the de-complexing may be subjected to electrical and/or gas flotation separation. Solvent de-complexing can be performed using an electrical separator. Aqueous streams are pH adjusted for return to the environment.