Sorbent for lithium extraction
AssigneeSimbol Inc.
InventorsJohn L. Burba, III, Ray F. Stewart, Brian E. Viani, Stephen Harrison, Christine Ellen Vogdes, John Galil Salim Lahlouh
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium aluminate intercalate (LAI) matrix solid and methods for the selective extraction and recovery of lithium from lithium containing solutions, including brines. The method for preparing the LAI matrix solid includes reacting aluminum hydroxide and a lithium salt for form the lithium aluminate intercalate, which can then be mixed with up to about 20% by weight of a polymer to form the LAI matrix.
Claims18
A method for preparing a composition for recovery of lithium from a brine, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- preparing a lithium aluminate intercalate solid by contacting a lithium salt with alumina under conditions sufficient to infuse the alumina with lithium salt, wherein the mole ratio of lithium to alumina is up to about 0.5:1;
- and
- mixing the lithium aluminate intercalate solid with a polymer material in an aqueous medium to form a matrix, wherein said lithium aluminate intercalate solid is present in an amount of at least about 80% by weight and said polymer is present in an amount of between about 1% and 20% by weight, and wherein the said polymer is not an ion-exchange resin.
A method for preparing a composition for recovery of lithium from a brine, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- preparing a lithium aluminate intercalate solid by contacting a lithium salt with alumina under conditions sufficient to infuse the alumina with lithium salt, wherein the mole ratio of lithium to alumina is up to about 0.5:1;
- and
- mixing the lithium aluminate intercalate solid with a polymer material in an aqueous medium to form a matrix, wherein said lithium aluminate intercalate solid is present in an amount of at least about 80% by weight and said polymer is present in an amount of between about 1% and 20% by weight, and wherein the said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, poly vinyl alcohol, poly acrylic acid, polyvinylidinedifluoride, and polytetrafluoroethylene.
A composition for recovery of lithium from a brine comprising particulate material comprising a lithium aluminate intercalate and a polymer,
- wherein the lithium aluminate intercalate is produced by infusing alumina with a lithium salt to produce a LiX/AI(OH)3 solid having a mole fraction of lithium to alumina of up to about 0.33, wherein X is the anion of the lithium salt,
- wherein the lithium aluminate intercalate is present in an amount of at least about 80% by weight and the polymer is present in an amount of between about 1% and 20% by weight, and
- and wherein the said polymer is not an ion-exchange resin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.