Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include extracting lithium from an extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate, performing one or more concentration operations, each concentration operation concentrating an input stream to yield an output feed, wherein the input stream is obtained from the lithium intermediate and/or the extraction feed is obtained from the output feed. At least one of the concentration operations includes a membrane separation operation having a plurality of reactors in series each having a semi-permeable membrane, such as a counter-flow reverse osmosis operation. Methods may also include generating a low TDS stream as a permeate from any of the one or more concentration operations, wherein the low TDS stream is recycled or used as fresh water.

Abstract: Methods comprise generating chlorine gas in a conversion process that converts metal chloride from an aqueous medium derived from a metal containing aqueous source into a hydroxide material; recovering the chlorine gas; and recovering bromine by reacting the chlorine gas with a bromide containing aqueous source. The methods and apparatus described herein also provide for removing sulfide species and/or organic species and/or transition metals, among others. The methods may be applicable for instance to lithium conversion and may be coupled to a direct extraction process for lithium extraction.

Abstract: Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement and particles of an oil-absorbent material. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent material in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

Abstract: Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement, particles of an oil-absorbent particles and non-swellable hydrophobic particles. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent particles and hydrophobic particles in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

Abstract: Methods of treating an aqueous source are described herein that include reducing a concentration of sulfide species in a stream obtained from the aqueous source to form an extraction feed and extracting ions from the extraction feed, or a stream obtained from the extraction feed, using direct aqueous extraction. Other methods describe treating an aqueous source by reducing a concentration of organic species in a stream derived from the aqueous source to form an extraction feed and extracting ions from the extraction feed, or a stream derived from the extraction feed, using direct aqueous extraction. The aqueous source can be an aqueous lithium source.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering a target ion, such as lithium, from earth materials. The methods include leaching the target ion from an earth material such as a clay to form a target solution and extracting the target ion from the dilute lithium solution using a extraction process selective for the target ion to yield a concentrate which can be converted to a product.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering target ions from salt deposits. The methods include dissolving a target ion from a salt deposit to form a target solution and extracting the target ion from the target solution using a selective extraction process to yield a concentrate of the target ion which can be converted to a product.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include concentrating a dilute aqueous lithium source to yield an extraction feed having an extraction lithium concentration; extracting lithium from the extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate; concentrating a stream obtained from the lithium intermediate in a concentration stage to yield a lithium concentrate; and converting lithium in the lithium concentrate to lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include concentrating a dilute aqueous lithium source to yield an extraction feed having an extraction lithium concentration; extracting lithium from the extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate; concentrating a stream obtained from the lithium intermediate in a concentration stage to yield a lithium concentrate; and converting lithium in the lithium concentrate to lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from aqueous sources. The methods include extracting lithium from an aqueous lithium source using an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate; routing the lithium intermediate to a concentration stage to yield a lithium concentrate; and adjusting parameters of the ion withdrawal extraction stage to target a ratio of lithium ions to impurity ions in the lithium intermediate.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include extracting lithium from an extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate, performing one or more concentration operations, each concentration operation concentrating an input stream to yield an output feed, wherein the input stream is obtained from the lithium intermediate and/or the extraction feed is obtained from the output feed. At least one of the concentration operations includes a membrane separation operation having a plurality of reactors in series each having a semi-permeable membrane, such as a counter-flow reverse osmosis operation. Methods may also include generating a low TDS stream as a permeate from any of the one or more concentration operations, wherein the low TDS stream is recycled or used as fresh water.

Abstract: Lithium recovery processes are described using vaporization and conversion techniques. A vaporizer can be used to concentrate lithium and precipitate impurities. A conversion process can be used to replace anions in lithium bearing streams by adding a second anion and precipitating lithium in a salt with the second anion. Rotary separation can be used to separate the precipitated lithium salt.

Abstract: Lithium recovery processes are described using vaporization and conversion techniques. A vaporizer can be used to concentrate lithium and precipitate impurities. A conversion process can be used to replace anions in lithium bearing streams by adding a second anion and precipitating lithium in a salt with the second anion. Rotary separation can be used to separate the precipitated lithium salt.

Abstract: Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement, particles of an oil-absorbent particles and non-swellable hydrophobic particles. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent particles and hydrophobic particles in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

Abstract: Spacer fluids or chemical washes are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement and particles of an oil-absorbent material. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The spacer fluid or chemical wash is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the spacer fluid or chemical wash contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent material in the spacer fluid or chemical wash may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

Abstract: Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement and particles of an oil-absorbent material. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent material in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.