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US 2026/0295534 A1Published application
Systems and methods for lithium extraction from aqueous feedstocks
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsTao GAO, Yunan QIN
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Abstract
Described herein are systems and methods for electrochemical absorption/desorption for continuous and selective lithium extraction from aqueous lithium feedstocks. The disclosed systems and methods comprise symmetric electrodes having lithium selective material which absorbs and desorbs lithium ions based on an electric field voltage bias. By continuously cycling the voltage bias between positive and negative electric potentials, the absorption and desorption of lithium ions can be selectively controlled to allow efficient lithium extraction.
Claims32
A system for continuously and selectively extracting lithium from an aqueous lithium feedstock, the system comprising:
- an electrochemical cell comprising:
- a first electrode and a second electrode each comprising a lithium selective material, wherein the lithium selective material of the first electrode is the same as the lithium selective material of the second electrode, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart to define a flow channel between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- an anion exchange membrane separating the flow channel into a first subchannel of the flow channel and a second subchannel of the flow channel, the first subchannel being in fluid communication with the first electrode and a first side of the anion exchange membrane and comprising a first subchannel inlet and outlet, and the second subchannel being in fluid communication with the second electrode and a second opposing side of the anion exchange membrane and comprising a second subchannel inlet and outlet;
- a source of the aqueous lithium feedstock selectively fluidly coupled to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet through a first valve, the first valve being adapted to selectively adjust a fluid flow of the aqueous lithium feedstock from the source of the aqueous lithium feedstock to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet;
- a source of an extraction solution selectively fluidly coupled to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet through a second valve, the second valve being adapted to selectively adjust a fluid flow of the extraction solution from the source of the extraction solution to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet;
- a valve controller adapted to selectively configure the first and second valves such that when the source of the aqueous lithium feedstock is fluidly coupled to the first subchannel inlet, the source of the extraction solution is fluidly coupled to the second subchannel inlet, and when the source of the aqueous lithium feedstock is fluidly coupled to the second subchannel inlet, the source of the extraction solution is fluidly coupled to the first subchannel inlet;
- a fluid flow source operably coupled to the source of the aqueous lithium feedstock and the source of the extraction solution, the fluid flow source being configured to induce fluid flow of the aqueous lithium feedstock from the source of the aqueous lithium feedstock through either the first subchannel or the second subchannel and induce fluid flow of the extraction solution from the source of the extraction solution through either the first subchannel or the second subchannel;
- an electric potential source electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes;
- and
- an electric potential controller adapted to selectively adjust the electric potential applied to the first and second electrodes such that when the extraction solution flows through the first subchannel and the aqueous lithium feedstock flows through the second subchannel, a positive electric potential is applied to the first electrode and a negative electric potential is applied to the second electrode, and when the aqueous lithium feedstock flows through the first subchannel and the extraction solution flows through the second subchannel, a positive electric potential is applied to the second electrode and a negative electric potential is applied to the first electrode.
8 more elements
A method of continuously and selectively extracting lithium from an aqueous lithium feedstock, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an electrochemical cell comprising:
- a first electrode and a second electrode each comprising a lithium selective material, wherein the lithium selective material of the first electrode is the same as the lithium selective material of the second electrode, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart to define a flow channel between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- an anion exchange membrane separating the flow channel into a first subchannel of the flow channel and a second subchannel of the flow channel, the first subchannel being in fluid communication with the first electrode and a first side of the anion exchange membrane and comprising a first subchannel inlet and outlet, and the second subchannel being in fluid communication with the second electrode and a second opposing side of the anion exchange membrane and comprising a second subchannel inlet and outlet;
- (b) inducing a fluid flow of the aqueous lithium feedstock from a source of the aqueous lithium feedstock to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet, and simultaneously inducing a fluid flow of an extraction solution from a source of the extraction solution to either the first subchannel inlet or the second subchannel inlet, wherein the aqueous lithium feedstock and the extraction solution simultaneously flow to opposing first or second subchannel inlets;
- (c) applying an electric potential to the first and second electrodes such that the first electrode and the second electrode have opposing positive or negative electric potentials, wherein when the extraction solution flows through the first subchannel and the aqueous lithium feedstock flows through the second subchannel, a positive electric potential is applied to the first electrode and a negative electric potential is applied to the second electrode, and when the aqueous lithium feedstock flows through the first subchannel and the extraction solution flows through the second subchannel, a positive electric potential is applied to the second electrode and a negative electric potential is applied to the first electrode;
- (d) switching the fluid flow of the aqueous lithium feedstock to the opposing first or second subchannel inlet, and simultaneously switching the fluid flow of the extraction solution to the opposing first or second subchannel inlet;
- and
- (e) switching the electric potential of the first and second electrodes to the opposing positive or negative electric potential.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.