Abstract: The proposed method relates to producing inorganic sorbents for extracting lithium from lithium-containing natural and industrial brines. The method consists of a plurality of sequential steps, which include contacting a mixture of a soluble manganese (II) salt and aluminum (III) salt with an alkali solution in the presence of an alkali metal permanganate to obtain a precipitate of a mixed hydrated manganese (III), manganese (IV), and aluminum (III) oxide. After multiple reactions and conversions of intermediate products of the mixed hydrated manganese (III), manganese (IV), and aluminum (III) oxide, the final product is obtained as an ion exchanger in the H-form of high selectivity to lithium.

Abstract: Proposed is an inorganic ion-exchanger, which is selective to lithium and constituted a non-stoichiometric compound in the form of solid particles of a polymeric aqua-oxo-hydroxo complex represented by the following general formula: HaNbO(2.5+0.5·a).cZrO2.dH2O, wherein: “a” is a number ranging from 0.5 to 1.5, “c” is a number ranging from 0.01 to 1.0, and “d” is a number ranging from 0.1 to 2.0. The complex has a total ion exchange capacity of at least 3.5 meq/g and an ion-exchange capacity specifically to lithium of at least 2.5 meq/g. This ion-exchanger is intended for selective extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and industrial brines.