Recycling Alkaliating Solvent via Halide Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for prelithiation and solvent recycling in anhydrous organic solvents, such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), face challenges in efficiently removing trapped halide ions and byproducts, which leads to resin degradation and contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming superhalide alkali metal complexes in the anhydrous organic solvent during alkaliation, and then using lithium oxide or ammonia to convert these complexes back into lithium chloride, thereby removing trapped halides and reforming the solvent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ion exchange resins are used to remove contaminants from organic solvents, then solvent purification is improved, but resin degradation occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful halide ions from the organic solvent system by forming insoluble precipitates (silver halides, copper halides, or zinc halides) that can be easily separated by filtration. This removes the contaminants without requiring ion exchange resins that degrade over time, thus achieving both purification and long-term reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (silver salts, copper salts, or zinc salts) that mediate the removal of halide ions from the solvent. These intermediaries react with halide ions to form precipitates, enabling purification without the degradation issues associated with ion exchange resins.
2Productivity
If alkaliation process is performed in anhydrous organic solvent, then lithiation efficiency is improved, but halide ions become trapped in the solvent causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful trapped halide ions into beneficial insoluble precipitates by adding silver salts, copper salts, or zinc salts. The halide ions that were causing contamination are transformed into easily removable solid precipitates, turning a harmful byproduct into a manageable form that can be separated by filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solubility parameter of halide ions in the organic solvent by introducing metal salts that form insoluble halide precipitates. This parameter change from soluble to insoluble state enables easy separation of contaminants through filtration while maintaining the benefits of the alkaliation process.
3Manufacturing precision
If halide ions are removed from organic solvent, then solvent quality is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the solvent purification process by directly extracting halide ions through precipitation reactions followed by simple filtration. This avoids complex multi-step purification procedures while achieving high solvent quality, reducing both process complexity and maintaining manufacturing precision.
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 effectively recycles the anhydrous organic solvent by removing trapped halides and byproducts, improving the efficiency and sustainability of the lithiation process while preventing resin degradation.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the waste solution with lithium oxide to form a precipitate and a reformed organic solvent
Implementation Method 2
contacting the waste solution with ammonia to form a precipitate and a reformed organic solvent
Implementation Method 3
lithium chloride is dissolved in an anhydrous organic solvent, such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)
Implementation Method 4
providing an electrolytic field plate wherein said field plate establishes a field between the material and the field plate
Implementation Method 5
applying a reducing current to the material and an oxidizing current to the field plate, wherein alkali ions from the bath alkaliate into the material
Implementation Method 6
contacting the waste solution with ammonia to form a precipitate and a reformed organic solvent; removing the precipitate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of removing the byproduct halogen gas trapped in anhydrous organic solvents such as gamma-butyrolactone, wherein the trapped species preferably form alkali metal complexes such as alkali metal superhalides, comprising adding lithium oxide or ammonia.