Patents by Inventor Amit Patwardhan
Amit Patwardhan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240131475Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicants: ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: Kevin Kruschka REIMUND, Richelle LYNDON, Amit PATWARDHAN, Teague EGAN, Benny Dean FREEMAN
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Publication number: 20240132998Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2024Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger, Daniel Suasnabar
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Publication number: 20240116002Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Amit PATWARDHAN, Teague EGAN
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Publication number: 20240102130Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger, Daniel Suasnabar
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Publication number: 20240067530Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Teague M. Egan
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Publication number: 20240047690Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2022Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicants: ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: Richelle LYNDON, Amit PATWARDHAN, Chris AFFOLTER, Karl P. LILLERUD, Teague EGAN, Nicholas Spencer GRUNDISH, Kevin Kruschka REIMUND, Benny Dean FREEMAN, John Bannister GOODENOUGH
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Publication number: 20240025755Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger
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Publication number: 20240017216Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Teague Egan, Angelo Kirchon
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Patent number: 11873540Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: US Borax Inc.Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger, Daniel Suasnabar
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Publication number: 20230192503Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: AMIT PATWARDHAN, TEAGUE EGAN
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Publication number: 20220170134Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger, Daniel Suasnabar
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Publication number: 20220169522Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Sandip Shinde, Allen Wattenbarger
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Publication number: 20220136081Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Teague M. Egan
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Publication number: 20200263277Abstract: A process for recovering valuable products from ore containing boron and lithium, such as jadarite ore, includes an acid digestion step and downstream steps that recover valuable boron-containing and lithium-containing products.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2018Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Amit Patwardhan, Terry Downing, Mahesh Patel, Fazlul Alam, Jun Li, Gary Davis