Process for selective adsorption and recovery of lithium from natural and synthetic brines

A process for producing an enhanced lithium product solution from a lithium-containing brine solution, said process comprising the steps of:

• feeding said brine solution to a continuous countercurrent adsorption and desorption circuit having a central multi-port valve system and a plurality of process zones;
• treating said lithium in said brine solution by flowing said brine solution through said continuous countercurrent adsorption and desorption circuit to produce said enhanced lithium product solution;
• and
• wherein each of said process zones comprises a lithium selective adsorbent,
• wherein a lithium-containing eluant solution or a portion of a lithium product eluate is passed through one or more of said process zones to strip a portion of said lithium from said lithium selective adsorbent,
• wherein said lithium-containing eluant solution comprises lithium chloride and water at a concentration of up to about 1000 mg/kg lithium, and
• wherein said portion of said lithium product eluate comprises lithium chloride and water at a concentration of up to about 1000 mg/kg lithium.