Process for producing lithium concentrate from brine or seawater
US6764584B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC01D15/00
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Two concentration techniques, adsorption and electrodialysis, are combined to enrich lithium ions in brine from a level of several ppm to about 1.5%. At beginning brine is subjected to an adsorption, so that Li content is increased to 1200-1500 ppm, followed by two stages of electrodialysis in series to increase Li ions to about 1.5%. Li depleted solution from the second stage of electrodialysis having a Li content of 1200-1500 ppm is recycled to the first stage of electrodialysis as a feed. Li depleted water from the first stage of electrodialysis is subjected to a residue recovery electrodialysis to form a Li enriched solution of 1200-1500 ppm, which is also recycled to the first stage of electrodialysis as a feed. Li depleted solution from the residue recovery electrodialysis is recycled as a feed of the adsorption, so as to sufficiently recover Li ions from brine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.