Counter Current Adsorption Reactor for Lithium Ion Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for adsorption/desorption of lithium ions from brine are inefficient, requiring a long time and resulting in low yield due to the slow adsorption and desorption processes.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a counter current decantation (CCD) process, where brine and adsorbent sequentially flow backwards through multiple adsorption and desorption reactors, using manganese or aluminum oxide as adsorbents, and strong acid solutions for desorption, to enhance the adsorption and desorption rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional adsorption/desorption process is used, then the process is simple to operate, but the adsorption rate is low and the process time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple adsorption reactors (first, second, third) and multiple desorption reactors (first, second, third) that operate in sequence. The brine flows through the adsorption reactors while the adsorbent flows through the desorption reactors in a counter-current manner, allowing continuous processing and significantly improving the adsorption rate to 65±5% while reducing overall process time
Solution Approach 2:
The adsorbent is prepared in advance and circulated through the desorption reactors before being introduced to the adsorption reactors. The counter-current flow arrangement pre-conditions the adsorbent and brine streams, enabling the adsorption process to achieve high efficiency from the start of each cycle
2Productivity
If conventional adsorption/desorption process is used, then the equipment complexity is low, but the lithium ion extraction yield is small
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent serves multiple functions by circulating through both adsorption reactors (where it captures lithium ions) and desorption reactors (where it releases concentrated lithium ions). This multi-functional circulation system increases the extraction yield while the modular reactor design keeps the overall system complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-current decantation process establishes continuous flow through all adsorption and desorption reactors, eliminating idle time between batches. The adsorbent and brine continuously interact in optimized configurations, maintaining high extraction yield throughout the operation
3Duration of action of moving object
If adsorbent is allowed to settle or float, then the separation is simple, but the adsorption contact time is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stirrer operates periodically to maintain the adsorbent in an intermediate suspended state during the adsorption phase, ensuring adequate contact time between adsorbent particles and lithium ions in the brine. The periodic mixing followed by settling cycles optimizes both contact duration and separation ease
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 an adsorption rate of 65±5% and a desorption rate of 95±3%, enabling effective and economically feasible extraction of lithium ions from brine.
Implementation Method 1
adsorbing lithium ions to an adsorbent by supplying the adsorbent to the adsorption reactor to which the brine is supplied
Implementation Method 2
an adsorbent is added to brine from which magnesium ions have been removed, to adsorb the lithium ions
Implementation Method 3
the adsorbent having the lithium ions adsorbed thereto is then subjected to acid treatment using a strong acid solution such as a hydrochloric acid solution to desorb the lithium ions therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for adsorption/desorption of lithium ions from brine, which employs a counter current decantation process in adsorption/desorption of lithium ions, thereby achieving an adsorption rate of 65±5% and a desorption rate of 95±3%. The method includes supplying brine into one of a plurality of adsorption reactors, adsorbing lithium ions to an adsorbent by supplying the adsorbent to the adsorption reactor to which the brine is supplied and forcing the brine and the adsorbent to sequentially flow backwards inside the respective adsorption reactors, and desorbing the lithium ions from the brine by forcing the adsorbent to which the lithium ions are adsorbed to sequentially flow backwards inside a plurality of desorption reactors. Here, the brine and the adsorbent are stirred by a stirrer to maintain the adsorbent in an intermediate state instead of settling or floating inside the respective adsorption reactors.