System and process for direct lithium extraction and production of low carbon intensity lithium chemicals from geothermal brines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporative processes are economically inefficient for brines with low lithium concentrations and high impurity levels, and binary cycle geothermal plants face challenges in modifying brine chemistry for direct lithium extraction without impairing operations or causing scaling issues.
Innovation Solution
A system combining a binary cycle geothermal plant, direct lithium extraction (DLE) circuit, lithium chloride concentration and purification circuit, and lithium battery chemical processing circuit, utilizing adsorption, ion exchange, and solvent extraction to produce battery-quality lithium hydroxide and carbonate from geothermal brines, while co-generating zero-carbon electricity and heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If evaporative processes are used to extract lithium from brines, then lithium can be crystallized and produced, but the process becomes economically inefficient for brines with low lithium concentrations and high impurity levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology that selectively extracts lithium from brine using adsorption materials, ion exchange resins, or solvent extraction agents. This method separates lithium from the brine matrix without requiring large-scale evaporation, enabling economical processing of low-concentration brines with high impurity content by targeting only the lithium component for removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies brine chemistry parameters (pH, temperature, composition) to optimize conditions for selective lithium extraction while preventing scaling. By adjusting these parameters, the process achieves efficient lithium recovery from low-concentration brines without the economic penalties of traditional evaporative methods.
2Productivity
If brine chemistry is modified for direct lithium extraction, then lithium extraction efficiency improves, but binary cycle geothermal plant operations may be impaired and scaling issues may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary conditioning of the brine before it enters the DLE circuit, adjusting pH and adding scale inhibitors to prevent scaling during lithium extraction. After extraction, the brine is post-conditioned to restore its chemical properties suitable for re-injection, ensuring geothermal plant reliability while enabling efficient lithium recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical intermediaries such as scale inhibitors and pH adjusters that mediate between the lithium extraction process and the geothermal brine properties. These intermediaries allow selective lithium removal while preventing harmful scaling and maintaining brine quality for safe re-injection into the geothermal reservoir.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional evaporative processes are used, then lithium can be produced from high concentration brines, but the process cannot economically process low grade brines with higher impurity concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs selective extraction methods using adsorption materials, ion exchange resins, or solvent extraction that target lithium specifically regardless of its concentration in the brine. This approach enables economical processing of low-grade brines with high impurity content by selectively removing lithium without requiring the high lithium concentrations needed for traditional evaporative processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the extraction mechanism from evaporation-based to chemistry-based selective removal, allowing processing of brines across a wide range of lithium concentrations. By adjusting extraction parameters such as pH, temperature, and reagent selection, the process achieves economic viability for low-grade brines that would be unprofitable using conventional evaporative methods.
4Productivity
If geothermal brines are processed through DLE, then lithium can be extracted selectively, but brine chemistry modification is needed to prevent scaling in wells and aquifers
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary brine conditioning before DLE processing, adjusting pH and adding scale inhibitors to prevent scaling during lithium extraction. This pre-treatment ensures that subsequent lithium removal does not trigger scaling reactions that would harm well or aquifer integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses chemical intermediaries such as scale inhibitors and pH buffers that mediate between the lithium extraction chemistry and the brine's scaling potential. These intermediaries allow selective lithium removal while suppressing scaling reactions, enabling safe re-injection of processed brine back into the geothermal aquifer without clogging or damage.
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 system efficiently extracts lithium from geothermal brines, producing high-quality lithium products and generating clean energy without carbon-based fuel input, addressing economic inefficiencies and scaling issues in existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a binary cycle geothermal plant positioned upstream of an optional brine pre-conditioning circuit
Implementation Method 2
co-generates geothermal energy from production wells to power the lithium extraction system
Implementation Method 3
The direct lithium extraction circuit utilizes adsorption, ion exchange, ionic liquids, and/or solvent extraction
Implementation Method 4
The direct lithium extraction circuit utilizes adsorption, ion exchange, ionic liquids, and/or solvent extraction
Implementation Method 5
The direct lithium extraction circuit utilizes adsorption, ion exchange, ionic liquids, and/or solvent extraction
Implementation Method 6
The lithium chloride concentration and purification circuit is configured to remove water from the lithium chloride concentrate stream
Implementation Method 7
The lithium battery chemical processing circuit is configured to form a lithium hydroxide stream, or a lithium carbonate stream, or both from the upgraded lithium chloride concentrate
Data Source
AI summary
A system and process for direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines, and more particular to the sequential combination of a binary cycle geothermal plant, a direct lithium extraction circuit, a lithium chloride concentration and purification circuit, and a lithium battery chemical processing circuit, for the production of battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate, lithium carbonate or both from geothermal brines. The processing circuits are powered by the electricity and heat produced by the binary cycle geothermal plant without the use of carbon-based fuels. Non-condensable gases that may come out of solution from the geothermal brine are not emitted into the atmosphere.