System and process for producing lithium
AssigneeAlpha-En Corporation
InventorLawrence Ralph Swonger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A decoupled plating system is provided for producing lithium. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a feed tank configured to supply a lithium-rich aqueous electrolyte stream, a plating tank that is configured to receive an organic electrolyte and plate out lithium metal from that organic electrolyte, and one or more lithium replenishment cells configured to receive both electrolytes, keep them separated, and selectively move lithium ions from the aqueous electrolyte into the spent organic electrolyte stream. The present system and process can advantageously reduce operating costs and/or improve energy efficiency in production of lithium metal and associated products.
Claims24
A lithium producing system comprising:
- a plating tank configured to receive an organic electrolyte;
- an anode provided within the plating tank;
- a substrate spaced apart from the anode and provided within the plating tank, wherein the anode and the substrate are configured to apply a potential to the substrate, whereupon lithium is plated onto the substrate from the organic electrolyte, and a spent electrolyte stream is discharged;
- and
- one or more lithium replenishment cells configured to receive the spent electrolyte stream and to form one or more regenerate electrolyte streams.
A process for producing lithium, the process comprising:
- forwarding an organic electrolyte to a plating tank, wherein an anode and a substrate are provided within the plating tank;
- applying a potential to the substrate, thereby plating lithium onto the substrate from the organic electrolyte and forming a spent electrolyte stream;
- and
- regenerating the spent electrolyte stream within one or more lithium replenishment cells.
A lithium producing system comprising:
- a plating tank configured to receive an organic electrolyte;
- an anode provided within the plating tank;
- a substrate spaced apart from the anode and provided within the plating tank;
- and
- one or more lithium replenishment cells configured to receive the organic electrolyte stream from the plating tank, wherein the one or more lithium replenishment cells comprise a lithium ion conductive glass ceramic, and wherein the substrate is larger than the lithium ion conductive glass ceramic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.