Abstract: A direct lithium extraction (DLE) process and system comprising ion exchange, ion adsorption, and solvent extraction or other methods to reduce downstream process steps which typically include nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, mechanical-thermal evaporation, and additional solvent extraction or other steps.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of improving the monovalent selectivity of the anion exchange membrane. When operating electrodialysis in a high salinity brine, the high salinity solution enables monovalent selective transport. The monovalent selectivity can significantly retard divalent anion transport, such as SO42—, and is particularly useful during lithium extractions from brines. Such selectivity can be utilized in many operation containing high concentration of salt solution such as sea salt extraction, lithium production, and the production of chloroalkanes.

Abstract: Membrane materials and methods are disclosed for selectively separating or transporting ions in liquid media. In embodiments, the membranes comprise cellulose acetate polymer films having high cation, monovalent/divalent, and/or Li+/Mg2+ selectivity. Systems and methods for use of such membranes, including the direct extraction of lithium (DLE) from natural brines and other resources, also are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods using solar evaporation to preconcentrate lithium containing brines to at or near lithium saturation, followed by a separation processes to separate lithium from impurities. A separated impurity stream is recycled to a point in the evaporation sequence where conditions are favorable for their precipitation and removal or disposed in a separate evaporation pond or reinjected underground, while a lower impurity stream is transferred to one or more of the removal location, to a subsequent pond in the sequence, or to a lithium plant or concentration facility. Further concentration of lithium by evaporation can then take place because impurities are removed thus eliminating lithium losses due to co-precipitation and achieving significantly higher concentrations of lithium.

Abstract: Membrane materials and methods are disclosed for selectively separating or transporting ions in liquid media. In embodiments, the membranes comprise cellulose acetate polymer films having high cation, monovalent/divalent, and/or Li+/Mg2+ selectivity. Systems and methods for use of such membranes, including the direct extraction of lithium (DLE) from natural brines and other resources, also are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for direct production of lithium hydroxide by utilizing cation selective, monovalent selective, or preferably lithium selective membranes. Lithium selective membranes possess high lithium selectivity over multivalent and other monovalent ions and thus prevent magnesium precipitation during electrodialysis (ED) and also address the presence of sodium in most naturally occurring brine or mineral based lithium production processes.

Abstract: Lithiated metal organic frameworks, methods of manufacturing lithiated metal organic frameworks, for example, by binding a solvent molecule to the MOF structure to achieve a highly lithiated bound solvent metal organic framework having improved Li+-ion conductivity, and applications for use of the lithiated metal organic frameworks, for example, in various capacities in rechargeable lithium batteries.

Abstract: A lithium-generating system can include a lithium-containing source feed, a hardness reduction unit, and a bipolar electrodialysis or electrolysis unit. The lithium-containing source feed can provide a lithium-containing material. The hardness reduction unit can be configured to receive the lithium-containing material and reduce the hardness thereof yet still be over 10 ppm upon processing by the hardness reduction unit. The bipolar electrodialysis unit can process the lithium-containing material and generate an aqueous LiOH product. The hardness reduction unit is configured to produce a hardness level within a given hardness-reduced lithium-containing material to be within an upper operational limit of at least one bipolar membrane, in addition to being at a given hardness level of over 10 ppm. The lithium-generating system can further include components to facilitate production of Li2CO3 and/or LiOH·H2O.