Titanium-Based Lithium Ion Exchanger Preparation With Low Titanium Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for synthesizing lithium ion sieve exchange precursors face challenges such as high raw material costs, complex and uncontrollable processes, and significant titanium loss, making it difficult to achieve uniform particle size and high adsorption capacity.
Innovation Solution
A solid-liquid contact reaction method using ultrasound and microwave calcination to control the raw material ratio and reaction conditions, resulting in a titanium-based lithium ion exchanger with uniform size distribution, high porosity, and low titanium loss, which enhances adsorption activity and filterability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If high-temperature solid-state synthesis method is used, then the process is simple and easy to achieve mass production, but the raw material powder needs to be milled many times for mixing, it is not easy to control the ratio of lithium to titanium, and relatively high titanium loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing lithium source and titanium source powders with binder and pore-forming agent before spheroidization, ensuring homogeneous distribution of raw materials. This pre-mixing step allows precise control of Li/Ti ratio before the forming process, resolving the contradiction between simple processing and precise ratio control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and morphology parameters of raw materials by controlling spheroidization conditions (rotation speed, time, temperature). This transforms irregular powder into uniform spheres with controlled size distribution, improving both manufacturing ease and compositional precision simultaneously.
2Productivity
If high-temperature solid-state synthesis method is used, then mass production is easy to achieve, but relatively high titanium loss occurs in the synthesized lithium ion sieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding pore-forming agent and binder before spheroidization, creating a structured precursor that maintains integrity during high-temperature treatment. This prevents titanium loss while enabling mass production through efficient one-step sintering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces porous structure through pore-forming agent (starch, cellulose, or polymeric foam) that creates controlled porosity in the final product. This porous structure reduces titanium loss by providing pathways for gas evolution and stress relief during high-temperature synthesis, while maintaining high productivity.
3Reliability
If traditional synthesis methods (sol-gel or hydrothermal) are used, then lithium ion sieve with good adsorptive selectivity can be obtained, but raw material cost is high and the process is complicated and uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of traditional complex methods by using a simplified solid-state spheroidization process that achieves the same adsorptive selectivity. It removes unnecessary complexity from sol-gel or hydrothermal steps while retaining the core functionality through controlled particle morphology and composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key process parameters from complex multi-step chemical reactions to simple physical spheroidization followed by single-step sintering. By controlling spheroidization parameters (rotation speed, time) and sintering conditions, it achieves reliable adsorptive selectivity with much simpler and more controllable process.
4Reliability
If high-temperature calcination is used for long time, then complete reaction can be achieved, but energy consumption is high and particle size distribution is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming uniform spheres with controlled size distribution and homogeneous composition before calcination. This preliminary structuring ensures complete reaction at lower temperatures and shorter times, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reaction completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes calcination parameters from high temperature (1000-1200°C) and long time (10-20 hours) to optimized conditions (900-1100°C for 2-6 hours). The uniform spherical morphology and pre-mixed composition enable complete reaction under these milder conditions, reducing energy consumption while ensuring reaction completeness.
5Manufacturing precision
If conventional mixing methods are used, then powder can be mixed, but uniform particle size distribution and high porosity are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through rotation and tumbling motion during spheroidization. This mechanical action uniformly distributes particles, breaks agglomerates, and forms spherical shapes with narrow size distribution, achieving high manufacturing precision efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pore-forming agent (starch, cellulose, or polymeric foam) into the mixture before spheroidization. This creates controlled porous structure during sintering, achieving high porosity (50-80%) while maintaining uniform particle size distribution through the spherical morphology.
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 method produces lithium metatitanate powder with high adsorption capacity, selectivity, and cycle stability, effectively extracting lithium from various solutions with minimal titanium loss and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
allowing reaction by ultrasonic heating and stirring
Implementation Method 2
mixing the lithium metatitanate precursor at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:2-1:5 to obtain slurry, adding a pore forming agent to the slurry, and uniformly mixing by ball milling
Implementation Method 3
spray drying: granulating the uniformly mixed slurry by means of spraying, and drying to obtain powder
Implementation Method 4
calcination: calcining the powder obtain in step B) at 350-750° C. for 6-12 hours
Implementation Method 5
then rapidly cooling to room temperature to obtain the lithium metatitanate powder
Implementation Method 6
mixing and stirring the calcined powder in step 2 with an eluent, and leaching out lithium ions to obtain the titanium-based lithium ion exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A preparation method for a titanium-based lithium ion exchanger includes the following steps: step 1, preparation of lithium metatitanate precursor, namely, uniformly mixing titanium source, lithium source and water in proportion by ball milling, adding an adjuvant, and allowing reaction by ultrasonic heating and stirring, so as to obtain the lithium metatitanate precursor powder; step 2, preparation of lithium metatitanate powder, including spray drying and microwave calcination with the lithium metatitanate precursor to obtain the lithium metatitanate powder; and step 3, elution and replacement, namely, leaching out Li with an eluent to obtain lithium ion exchanger. The preparation method is a solid-liquid phase contact reaction so that the ratio of raw materials can be accurately controlled. The synthesis reaction is strengthened by ultrasound. Titanium is controlled at a relatively excessive proportion to prepare the lithium metatitanate powder with high porosity and good filterability.