Integrated electrochemical cell and method for lithium extraction from brine and conversion to lithium product

A method for processing a Lithium brine to obtain a recovered Lithium and to produce a Lithium product by using an integrated electrochemical cell having a catholyte chamber, a buffer chamber, a compatible anion chamber and an anolyte chamber, the method comprising:

• a) admitting said Lithium brine into said catholyte chamber having a Lithium intercalating electrode for intercalating said recovered Lithium from said Lithium brine and a first anion exchange membrane;
• b) sandwiching said buffer chamber between said first anion exchange membrane and an intermediate membrane, said buffer chamber streaming a salt of a brine-predominant anion for removing said brine-predominant anion from said catholyte chamber to prevent precipitate formation on said first anion exchange membrane;
• c) sandwiching said compatible anion chamber between said intermediate membrane and a second anion exchange membrane, said compatible anion chamber streaming a compatible compound for obtaining product anions for said Lithium product and passing said product anions from said compatible anion chamber through said second anion exchange membrane;
• d) placing an anolyte chamber adjacent to said second anion exchange membrane for receiving said product anions and having a Lithium de-intercalating electrode, said anolyte chamber streaming a Lithium-bearing solution and said Lithium de-intercalating electrode releasing Lithium into said anolyte chamber to pair with said product anions to form said Lithium product;
• and
• e) applying a potential difference between said Lithium intercalating electrode and said Lithium de-intercalating electrode to drive said intercalating of said recovered Lithium and production of said Lithium product.

A Lithium product obtained by processing a Lithium brine to obtain a recovered Lithium and said Lithium product using an integrated electrochemical cell having a catholyte chamber, a buffer chamber, a compatible anion chamber and an anolyte chamber, said Lithium product being obtained by:

• a) admitting said Lithium brine into said catholyte chamber having a Lithium intercalating electrode for intercalating said recovered Lithium from said Lithium brine and a first anion exchange membrane;
• b) sandwiching said buffer chamber between said first anion exchange membrane and an intermediate membrane, said buffer chamber streaming a salt of a brine-predominant anion for removing said brine-predominant anion from said catholyte chamber to prevent precipitate formation on said first anion exchange membrane;
• c) sandwiching said compatible anion chamber between said intermediate membrane and a second anion exchange membrane, said compatible anion chamber streaming a compatible compound for obtaining product anions for said Lithium product and passing said product anions from said compatible anion chamber through said second anion exchange membrane;
• d) placing an anolyte chamber adjacent to said second anion exchange membrane for receiving said product anions and having a Lithium de-intercalating electrode, said anolyte chamber streaming a Lithium-bearing solution and said Lithium de-intercalating electrode releasing Lithium into said anolyte chamber to pair with said product anions to form said Lithium product;
• and
• e) applying a potential difference between said Lithium intercalating electrode and said Lithium de-intercalating electrode to drive said intercalating of said recovered Lithium and production of said Lithium product.