Abstract: A mixing apparatus for in-line mixing of fluids is described herein. In some embodiments, the mixing apparatus comprises a mixer body defining a plurality of support arms and a substantially conical flow member that can be coupled to the plurality of support arms. In other embodiments, the mixer body defines at least one body injection passage extending from an injection inlet on the exterior surface of the mixer body through one of the support arms; the flow member defines a flow member injection passage extending through at least a portion of the flow member to an injection outlet defined at the leading end or the peripheral surface of the flow member; and the flow member is coupled to the support arms such that the injection inlet is in fluid communication with the injection outlet via the mixer body injection passage and the flow member injection passage.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes mixing apparatuses comprising a first conduit defining an inlet channel, a second conduit defining an outlet channel, and an injection assembly that is disposed between the first and second conduits. The injection assembly can comprise two or more mixers, each having a reducer conduit that defines a mixing channel and an expander conduit that defines an expanding channel. The injection assembly can also comprise a first injection conduit configured to inject fluid into the mixing channel. At least one of the mixers can comprise a shut-off valve movable from an open position to a closed position in which the shut-off valve prevents fluid from flowing from the mixer to the second conduit. Closing the shut-off valve can increase the fluid flow rate in at least one other of the mixing channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for extracting a target element, such as lithium, from a brine. For example, some aspects include a method of extracting lithium including mixing a first brine with an extraction agent to form a first solution having a lithium complex, the lithium complex including lithium bound to the extraction agent. The method can further include extracting the lithium from the first solution and recycling the extraction agent to be used in a further extraction process. In some aspects, extracting the lithium from the first solution includes adsorbing, via an adsorbent media, the lithium complex from the first solution, removing the lithium complex from the adsorbent media, and separating the lithium from the extraction agent in the lithium complex.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes mixing apparatuses comprising a pipe having an internal channel having a convergent frustoconical portion, and a divergent portion. The divergent portion may comprise a divergent frustoconical portion and an annular, concave curved portion. A plurality of injection ports may be spaced circumferentially in the convergent frustoconical portion and communicate a liquid into internal channel. The plurality of injection ports may define an opening in the internal channel having a first dimension in a circumferential direction that is larger than a second dimension in a longitudinal direction. The injection mixer may be configured to mix a first fluid flowing through the pipe with the second fluid to form a fully homogenous, dispersed fluid mixture.

Abstract: This disclosure includes mixers and methods of mixing. Some mixers comprise at least one contacting element, each defining at least one mixing channel. Each of the mixing channel(s) can have a cross-sectional area that decreases in a downstream direction to accelerate any pipe fluid flowing through the mixing channel. The contacting surface of each of the mixing channel(s) can deflect at least a portion of any pipe fluid flowing through the mixing channel until the contacting surface ends at an edge at a point of maximum constriction. Each of the contacting element(s) can define one or more injection path(s) to at least one of the contacting surface(s), each configured to inject admixture fluid onto the contacting surface such that the admixture fluid is entrained by pipe fluid over the edge.