Recovery of lithium from brine
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsWendy J. Repsher, Kirby T. Rapstein
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Abstract
Improvements are made in the process wherein Li.sup.+ values are recovered from dilute aqueous solution by the use of an anion exchange resin composite containing crystalline LiX.2Al(OH).sub.3, where X is halide. The improvements derive from enriching the Li.sup.+ containing solution with a non-competing metal salt (e.g., NaCl) prior to the Li.sup.+ removal, thereby achieving higher Li.sup.+ loading of the resin composite and obtaining more concentrated eluates.
Claims10
In a process for removing Li.sup.+ values from a Li.sup.+ -containing aqueous solution by passing the solution through a resin/aluminate composite,
- wherein said Li.sup.+ -containing aqueous solution is one which is not substantially loaded with non-competing metal salt, and
- which composite comprises an anion exchange resin having crystalline LiX.2Al(OH).sub.3 dispersed therein, where x is halide, thereby substantially loading the said composite with Li.sup.+ values, the improvement which comprises
- loading the Li.sup.+ -containing solution with at least one non-competing metal salt prior to passing it through the resin/aluminate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.