US 12,623,932 B2Granted

Direct production of lithium hydroxide from brine by electrochemical flow cells

AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan

InventorsWei Lu, Tianhan Gao

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Abstract

Disclosed are a system and methods for producing lithium hydroxide directly from natural brine by an electrochemical approach. In one example version of the system, an electrochemical cell operates in two states. In one state, lithium cations (Li+) intercalate into a first electrode from the brine, and sodium cations (Na+) deintercalate from a second electrode into the brine. In another state, lithium cations deintercalate from the first electrode into a dilute lithium hydroxide (LiOH) solution, and sodium cations intercalate to the second electrode from a concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Hydroxide anions (OH−) transport through an anion exchange membrane to combine with lithium cations (Li+) to form LiOH, continuously increasing its concentration.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for recovery of a first cation from a liquid containing the first cation, the system comprising:

a first electrode comprising a first cation host material;
a second electrode comprising a second cation host material, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced apart to define a flow channel between the first electrode and the second electrode;
an anion exchange membrane including an openable portion for shifting the anion exchange membrane into a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the flow channel is separated into a first subchannel of the flow channel and a second subchannel of the flow channel such that the first subchannel and the second subchannel are not in fluid communication, wherein in the first state, the first subchannel is in fluid communication with the first electrode, and wherein in the first state, the second subchannel is in fluid communication with the second electrode, and wherein in the second state, the first subchannel and the second subchannel are in fluid communication;
a first tank in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the first subchannel, the first tank storing a first solution containing the first cation, the first solution being transported through the first subchannel;
a second tank in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the second subchannel, the second tank storing a second solution containing a second cation, the second solution being transported through the second subchannel;
and
an electrical device in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode to supply a current to the first electrode and the second electrode,
wherein the first cation and the second cation are different.

5 more elements

A system for recovery of a first cation from a liquid containing the first cation, the system comprising:

a first electrode comprising a first cation host material;
a second electrode comprising a second cation host material, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced apart to define a flow channel between the first electrode and the second electrode;
an anion exchange membrane including an openable portion for shifting the anion exchange membrane into a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the flow channel is separated into a first subchannel of the flow channel and a second subchannel of the flow channel such that the first subchannel and the second subchannel are not in fluid communication, wherein in the second state, the first subchannel and the second subchannel are in fluid communication, wherein the first subchannel is in fluid communication with the first electrode, and wherein the second subchannel is in fluid communication with the second electrode,
a first tank in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the first subchannel, the first tank storing a first solution containing the first cation, the first solution being transported through the first subchannel when the anion exchange membrane is in the first state;
a second tank in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the second subchannel, the second tank storing a second solution containing a second cation, the second solution being transported through the second subchannel when the anion exchange membrane is in the first state;
a third tank in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the flow channel, the third tank storing the liquid containing the first cation, the liquid containing the first cation being transported through the flow channel when the anion exchange membrane is in the second state;
and
an electrical device in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode to supply a current to the first electrode and the second electrode.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/897,312Filed 29 Aug 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 Aug 2021
Published: US 2023/0067397 A12 Mar 2023
Granted: 12 May 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

C02F 1/4691
By electrochemical separation, e.g. by electro-osmosis, electrodialysis, electrophoresis: capacitive deionisation
B01D 61/461
Apparatus therefor: comprising only a single cell, only one anion or cation exchange membrane or one pair of anion and cation membranes
B01D 61/58
Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary…
B01D 61/428
Electrodialysis; Electro-osmosis ; Electro-ultrafiltration; Membrane capacitive deionization: membrane capacitive deionization