Composition for recovery of lithium from brines, and process of using said composition

A method of extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous source solution containing said lithium salt, the method comprising:

• (a) flowing said aqueous source solution containing lithium salt through a packed bed of solid particles having a composition that is a framework structure comprising LiX, M(OH)z units, and M′(OH)z units, wherein X is at least one anionic species selected from halide, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate, and bicarbonate;
• M is selected from aluminum, gallium, and indium;
• M′ is iron, and z is independently 2, 3, or 4, wherein M′ is present in an amount of at least 10 mol % of M but less than the molar amount of M, and wherein said lithium is present in said composition in an amount less than a saturated amount in order to permit extraction of said lithium salt from said aqueous solution containing lithium salt;
• and
• (b) recovering lithium salt extracted in step (a) from said packed bed of solid particles by washing said packed bed of solid particles with an aqueous washing solution containing the lithium salt in a concentration of no more than 50% of the concentration of the lithium salt in the aqueous source solution containing the lithium salt, and wherein said aqueous washing solution is substantially bereft of metal ions other than lithium ions.