Abstract: Method(s) and system(s) for the direct production of lithium and other metals from a brine solution containing salts of various metal cations at room temperature via a combined sorbent extraction and electrochemical extraction/plating process. This process uses a skeleton structure material that can reversibly insert/extract a desired metal cation to absorb the desired metal ions from a brine solution. The metal impregnated skeleton structure material is then transferred to an electrochemical cell where the metal ions are extracted from the structure and plated in the form of metal onto an electronically conductive substrate. This process is a combination of methods to take metal ions directly from a brine solution to produce an end-product of metal and is a significant improvement over current industrial processes that will reduce the energy required for metal production.

Abstract: Method(s) and apparatus for direct lithium extraction from brine solutions via a combined solvent extraction and electrowinning process. This process involves solvent extraction integrated with an electrodeposition of lithium metal from nonaqueous solutions to with the added feature of solvent regeneration. The direct lithium metal harvest from brines via a compatible solvent will reduce significantly operational and capital costs related to the current molten salt electrolysis methods for lithium metal production.

Abstract: A method of forming lithium carbonate from a lithium-bearing solution including: evaporating the lithium-bearing solution to precipitate a first group of impurities; removing the first group of impurities to form a first purified solution; and performing a flash crystallisation step within a predetermined temperature range to crystallise a second group of impurities from the first purified solution; removing the second group of impurities from the first solution to form a second purified solution, wherein at least 90 wt % of lithium is recovered from the first purified solution; and reacting the second purified solution with a metal carbonate to form lithium carbonate of at least 90 wt % purity.

Abstract: A method of making monovalent and multivalent anion selective membrane. Such membrane can be used for electrodialysis (“ED”) operation and applied towards the important Cl?—SO42? separation in lithium extraction. The membrane thickness is much less than 100 ?m, preferably less than 50 ?m, more preferably less than 40 ?m, and most preferably 20-30 ?m.

Abstract: A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including: (i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %; (ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %; (iii) roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and (iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.

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: An apparatus for extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material. A mixer is configured to receive and mix lithium-bearing material with gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and form a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %. A dryer is configured to dry the feed mixture and form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %. A roaster is configured to receive and roast the dried mixture and form a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound. A leach tank is configured to form a lithium-containing leachate from the water-soluble lithium compound using an aqueous solution.

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: A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including: (i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %; (ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %; (iii) roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and (iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.

Abstract: Systems and methods using solar evaporation to preconcentrate lithium containing brines to at or near lithium saturation, followed by a separation process 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: 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 method of forming lithium carbonate from a lithium-bearing solution including: evaporating the lithium-bearing solution to precipitate a first group of impurities; removing the first group of impurities to form a first purified solution; and performing a flash crystallisation step within a predetermined temperature range to crystallise a second group of impurities from the first purified solution; removing the second group of impurities from the first solution to form a second purified solution, wherein at least 90 wt % of lithium is recovered from the first purified solution; and reacting the second purified solution with a metal carbonate to form lithium carbonate of at least 90 wt % purity.

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.

Abstract: A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including: (i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %; (ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %; (iii) roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and (iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.

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: A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including: (i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %; (ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %; (iii)roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and (iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing the aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.