Fluorinated crown ethers and methods and systems for extraction of lithium using same
AssigneeCornell University
InventorsArna PALSDOTTIR, Jefferson W. TESTER
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides fluorinated crown ethers. The fluorinated crown ethers have one or more pendant fluorinated groups (e.g., thioether groups with a terminal fluorinated group). The fluorinated crown ethers have desirable solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. Also provided are methods and systems for removal of lithium (e.g., lithium ions) from aqueous samples using the fluorinated crown ethers coupled with lipophilic cation exchangers.
Claims20
A method for removing lithium ions from an aqueous sample comprising lithium ions comprising:
- contacting the aqueous sample comprising lithium ions with one or more fluorinated crown ether having the following structure:
- wherein R is a exocyclic fluorinated group and s is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 and the exocyclic fluorinated group comprises a terminal fluorinated group, and a cation exchanger,
- separating the aqueous sample that has been contacted with the one or more fluorinated crown ether and cation exchanger resulting in removal of at least a portion of or all of the lithium ions from the aqueous sample.
A fluorinated crown ether having the following structure:
- wherein R is a fluorinated exocyclic group and s is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 and the fluorinated exocyclic group comprises a terminal fluorinated group.
A system for removing lithium ions from an aqueous sample comprising lithium ions comprising:
- a fluorinated crown ether extractant and cation exchanger source;
- a carbon dioxide source;
- a mixing cell in fluid communication with the fluorinated crown ether and cation exchanger source and the carbon dioxide source;
- an aqueous solution source configured to provide a lithium ion containing aqueous solution;
- an extraction reactor in fluid communication with the mixing cell and the aqueous solution source, wherein lithium ions are extracted from the lithium ion containing aqueous solution in the extraction reactor into the supercritical carbon dioxide phase;
- a pressure reducing valve in fluid communication with the extraction reactor;
- and
- a collection vessel in fluid communication with the pressure reducing valve, wherein the collection vessel collects a condensed lithium containing complex.
A system for removing lithium ions from an aqueous sample comprising lithium ions comprising:
- an aqueous solution source configured to provide a lithium containing aqueous solution;
- a carbon dioxide source;
- an extraction reactor in fluid communication with the aqueous solution source and the carbon dioxide source;
- a condenser in fluid communication with the extraction reactor, wherein the condenser condenses at least some lithium containing complex from a carbon dioxide stream that includes the lithium containing complex into an organic solvent;
- a compressor in fluid communication with the condenser, wherein the compressor compresses at least some of the carbon dioxide stream that is depleted of the lithium containing complex;
- a second extraction reactor in fluid communication with the condenser, wherein the organic solvent comprising the lithium containing complex is delivered to the second extraction reactor;
- a mineral acid source in fluid communication with the second extraction reactor;
- a first collection vessel in fluid communication with the second extraction reactor, wherein the first collection vessel collects lithium impregnated mineral acid;
- and
- a second collection vessel in fluid communication with the second extraction reactor, wherein the second collection vessel collects lithium depleted organic solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.