Lithium Ion Sieve Recovery from Brine with Fluidized Acid Elution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for recovering lithium from brine are inefficient and costly due to the interference of high concentrations of other metal ions, instability in acid solutions, and impracticality in fixed beds, leading to frequent replacement and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A process using lithium ion sieves, such as titanium or niobium oxides, in powdered form, with controlled particle sizes and pH, combined with acid elution and solid/liquid separation, allows for continuous recovery of lithium by maintaining constant acid concentration and particle suspension, minimizing degradation and improving kinetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lithium ion sieves are used in fixed beds, then operational stability is improved, but pressure drop increases and kinetics are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluidization technology to replace fixed bed operation. By introducing upward fluid flow through the lithium ion sieve particles, the system achieves suspended particle operation that eliminates bed channeling and pressure drop issues while maintaining good contact between liquid and solid phases, thus resolving the contradiction between operational stability and pressure drop
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static fixed bed to dynamic fluidized bed operation. The lithium ion sieve particles are kept in constant motion by fluidization, which improves mass transfer kinetics and prevents channeling while maintaining operational stability through controlled fluid flow rates
2Area of stationary object
If lithium ion sieves are synthesized as fine powders, then surface area to volume ratio is improved, but particle aggregation occurs and kinetics are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical agitation and vibration in the fluidized bed system to prevent particle aggregation and maintain uniform particle suspension. This ensures that fine powder particles remain dispersed and accessible to the liquid phase, maintaining both high surface area utilization and good reaction kinetics
Solution Approach 2:
Fluidization provides continuous particle motion and suspension that prevents aggregation of fine powders. The upward fluid flow keeps particles separated and uniformly distributed, ensuring that the high surface area to volume ratio of fine particles is fully utilized without aggregation-related kinetic impairment
3Reliability
If conventional ion exchange resins are used, then selectivity for lithium over monovalent ions is improved, but multivalent ions interfere with recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ion exchange material by using lithium ion sieves with specific crystal structures (such as LiTi2O4 spinel or LiNbO3 perovskite). These materials have narrow exchange sites that provide size-based selectivity, allowing lithium ions to pass while blocking larger multivalent ions, thus resolving the selectivity issue
4Productivity
If lithium ion sieves are used in acid solutions, then lithium recovery is improved, but degradation occurs and capacity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lithium ion sieves with stable crystal structures (spinel LiTi2O4 or perovskite LiNbO3) that combine high lithium selectivity with acid resistance. These composite material structures provide both the narrow exchange sites needed for selectivity and the structural stability needed to resist acid degradation, resolving the contradiction between recovery efficiency and stability
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
The process achieves over 90% lithium recovery with reduced impurities, enabling multiple reuse of lithium ion sieves and minimizing operational costs through efficient separation and regeneration, suitable for industrial-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the lithium-bearing brine with a lithium ion sieve in a first mixed or stirred reactor to form a lithium ion complex with the lithium ion sieve
Implementation Method 2
a step of decomplexing lithium ions from the lithium ion sieve in a second mixed or stirred reactor to form an acidic lithium salt eluate solution separated from the lithium ion sieve
Data Source
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AI summary
A process for recovery of lithium ions from a lithium-bearing brine includes contacting the lithium-bearing brine with a lithium ion sieve (where that LIS includes an oxide of titanium or niobium) in a first stirred reactor to form a lithium ion complex with the lithium ion sieve, and decomplexing the lithium ion from the lithium ion sieve in a second stirred reactor to form the lithium ion sieve and an acidic lithium salt eluate.