Lithium Phosphate Precipitation from Brine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lithium extraction methods from brine are energy-intensive, costly, and environmentally polluting, with low yields due to the need for evaporation and concentration processes, and the re-dissolution of lithium carbonate, making it inefficient to extract lithium from seawater or brine.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the addition of a nucleus particle and a phosphorous supplying material to a lithium-bearing solution to precipitate lithium phosphate, which has lower solubility, allowing for high-purity lithium extraction without lengthy evaporation and concentration processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lithium is extracted from brine by converting to lithium carbonate, then lithium can be obtained in solid form, but the lithium carbonate re-dissolves due to low concentration being below solubility limit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical form parameter from lithium carbonate to lithium phosphate, exploiting the lower solubility of lithium phosphate to achieve precipitation at lower concentrations that would otherwise remain dissolved as carbonate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phosphate source as an intermediary substance that reacts with lithium to form lithium phosphate precipitate, enabling separation without requiring high concentration achieved through evaporation
2Quantity of substance
If brine is evaporated and concentrated to extract lithium, then lithium concentration increases, but energy consumption and time requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal evaporation process with a chemical precipitation process using phosphate, avoiding the energy-intensive mechanical/thermal system of evaporation while achieving concentration and separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition from dissolved lithium ions to solid lithium phosphate precipitate through chemical reaction, bypassing the evaporative phase transition that requires significant energy input
3Reliability
If lithium is extracted using conventional methods from brine, then lithium can be obtained, but the process is costly and environmentally polluting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary phosphate component to form lithium phosphate precipitate, leaving other brine components in solution, thereby achieving selective extraction without the need for complete evaporation and associated pollution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful evaporation process into a beneficial chemical precipitation reaction that occurs at ambient conditions, transforming an energy-intensive and polluting process into an efficient and environmentally friendly one
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 method enables economical and high-yield extraction of lithium phosphate from brine, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact by precipitating lithium phosphate directly, thus overcoming the limitations of existing extraction methods.
Implementation Method 1
precipitating the dissolved lithium in the lithium bearing solution as lithium phosphate by adding a phosphorous supplying material
Implementation Method 2
adding a nucleus particle to a lithium bearing solution; and precipitating the dissolved lithium
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extracting lithium from a lithium bearing solution and specifically, economically extracting lithium from a lithium bearing solution comprising the steps of: adding a nucleus particle to a lithium bearing solution; and precipitating the dissolved lithium in the lithium bearing solution as lithium phosphate by adding a phosphorous supplying material to the lithium bearing solution including the nucleus particle is provided.