Lithium Sorption Column Co-Current Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting lithium from lithium-containing brines result in significant lithium losses during washing stages, requiring additional recirculation and complicating the process, which also leads to reduced sorbent capacity and lower purity of the lithium concentrate.
Innovation Solution
The method involves draining residual brine from the column, rapidly washing the lithium-saturated sorbent with desalinated water at a rate of at least 6 column volumes per hour, and desorbing lithium in the same direction as the brine flow, thereby minimizing lithium loss and increasing purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If lithium-containing brine is fed into a column filled with granulated inorganic sorbent for lithium saturation, then lithium extraction is achieved, but significant lithium loss occurs during washing stages requiring additional recirculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional washing direction by performing washing in the same direction as the feed brine flow (co-current direction) rather than the conventional counter-current direction. This inversion reduces lithium loss during washing while maintaining effective impurity removal, thereby simplifying the recirculation system and reducing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the washing rate parameter to at least 6 column volumes per hour, which is significantly higher than conventional washing rates. This parameter change enables rapid washing that minimizes lithium loss while maintaining effective brine residue removal, reducing the need for additional recirculation stages
2Manufacturing precision
If additional treatment stages and reagents are used to obtain high purity lithium concentrate, then lithium battery production requirements are met, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary fast washing at high rate (at least 6 column volumes per hour) before desorption to remove impurities in advance. This preliminary action achieves high purity lithium concentrate directly from the sorption-desorption process, eliminating the need for additional purification stages and reagents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous co-current flow throughout the process from feed introduction through washing to desorption, ensuring that the lithium-enriched solution is continuously produced with high purity. This continuous action eliminates discrete purification stages while maintaining manufacturing precision
3Loss of substance
If desalinated water is used for washing at conventional rates, then brine residues are removed, but lithium is transferred to the washing solution reducing sorbent capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies rapid washing at high flow rate (at least 6 column volumes per hour) to quickly pass the desalinated water through the sorbent bed. This rushing through approach minimizes the contact time between water and sorbent, preventing lithium transfer to the washing solution while still effectively removing brine residues, thereby preserving sorbent capacity
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 reduces lithium losses with the washing solution, increases the purity of the lithium concentrate, and enhances the sorbent's effective operating capacity, allowing for fewer process stages and potential further processing into commercial products.
Implementation Method 1
a sorption-desorption concentrating module for obtaining a lithium saturated sorbent, wherein the sorption-desorption concentrating module is at least one vertically mounted column filled by inorganic granulated sorbent, wherein the inorganic granulated sorbent is a chlorine-containing lithium aluminum double hydroxide
Implementation Method 2
fast washing the lithium saturated sorbent from brine residues with desalinated water at a rate of at least 6 column volumes per hour in the amount of 150-250% of the sorbent volume present in the column, in the same direction as the direction of the feed lithium-containing brine flow
Implementation Method 3
desorption of lithium from the sorbent with desalinated water in the same direction as the direction of the feed lithium-containing brine flow, to obtain a lithium enriched solution
Data Source
AI summary
A method of lithium sorption recovery from natural brines and wastewaters. The method comprises introducing a feed lithium-containing brine to a sorption-desorption concentrating module in a form of a vertically mounted column filled with an inorganic granulated sorbent, being a chlorine-containing lithium aluminum double hydroxide. After the sorption, residual lithium-containing feedstock is drained from the column, then washing is made at a rate of at least 6 column volumes per hour in the amount of 150-250% of the sorbent volume, in the same direction as of the feed lithium-containing brine flow. Then lithium desorption from the sorbent is performed with desalinated water in the same direction as of the feed lithium-containing brine flow to obtain a lithium enriched solution. The obtained solution containing almost pure lithium chloride concentrate. The method results in reduced lithium losses with the washing solution and increased purity of the target LiCl concentrate.