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: Provided are an apparatus and a method for ion-exchange extraction of lithium from natural or technological brine by using a lithium-selective inorganic sorbent operating on a principle of an ion sieve. The apparatus contains a plurality of ion-exchange columns arranged and interconnected in sequence. Flows of the brine, flush water, acidic desorption solution, and outputs, of the processed products are controlled via switchable shut-off valves. The method can be carried out by operating the apparatus in a parallel or a serial mode of column operations. In the parallel mode, all columns work simultaneously in the same manner. In the serial mode of operation, the columns work individually with a shift of the sorption-flushing-desorption-flushing cycles sequentially and with a transfer of the processed brined sequentially from the first column to the last column and from the last column to the first one thus providing continuity of the lithium-extraction process.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of manufacturing an inorganic ion exchanger with improved selectivity for lithium. The exchanger is represented by the following general formula: HaNbO(2.5+0.5·a)·bLi2O·cWO3·dH2O, wherein “a” is a number ranging from 0.5 to 2.0, “b” is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.5, “c” is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.2, and “d” is a number ranging from 0.1 to 2.0. The method consists of: interacting a soluble niobate (V) with an acid to form a hydrated niobium (V) oxide and a hydrated tungsten (VI) oxide, which co-precipitate and form a mixed hydrated niobium (V) and tungsten (VI) oxide; granulating the obtained product; converting the granulated product into a lithium form; calcining the lithium form to obtain a mixed granulated tripled lithium, niobium (V) and tungsten (VI) oxide, and converting the lithium-form into an H-form of the inorganic ion-exchanger by treating it with an acid solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to lithium-selective inorganic ion exchangers for the extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. More specifically, invention relates to a technology for recovering lithium in the presence of oxidizing or reducing agents. The inorganic ion-exchanger is present in the form of solid particles which are represented by a chemical non-stoichiometric compound in the form of an inorganic polymeric aqua-oxo-hydroxo complex intended for selective extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and industrial brines, the inorganic ion-exchanger being represented by the following general formula: HaNbO(2.5+0.5·a)·bL2O·cWO3·dH2O; wherein: “a” is a number ranging from 0.5 to 2.0, “b” is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.5, “c” is a number ranging from 0.01 to 0.2, and “d” is a number ranging from 0.1 to 2.0.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of obtaining inorganic sorbents for extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. The method consists of steps of obtaining six consecutive non-stoichiometric compound, wherein at the final step the sixth non-stoichiometric compound is obtained by converting the fifth non-stoichiometric compound into a hydrogen-form of inorganic ion-exchanger by treating the fifth non-stoichiometric compound with an acid solution. The method improves selectivity and exchangeability of sorbents to lithium based on manganese oxides, as well as chemical stability of the sorbents in cyclic operations.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of obtaining inorganic sorbents for extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. The method consists of steps of obtaining six consecutive non-stoichiometric compound, wherein at the final step the sixth non-stoichiometric compound is obtained by converting the fifth non-stoichiometric compound into a hydrogen-form of inorganic ion-exchanger by treating the fifth non-stoichiometric compound with an acid solution. The method improves selectivity and exchangeability of sorbents to lithium based on manganese oxides, as well as chemical stability of the sorbents in cyclic operations.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing inorganic sorbents for extracting lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. The method is carried by contacting a soluble niobate (V) with an acid in the presence of at least one zirconium (IV) salt to obtain a precipitate of a mixed hydrated niobium and zirconium oxide. Subsequent steps include granulating the precipitate by freezing, converting the product of granulation into a Li-form, calcining the Li-form, and converting the obtained granulated mixed lithium, niobium, and zirconium oxide into an ion-exchanger in an H-form. In the obtained H-form the inorganic sorbent is ready for use in lithium extraction processes.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of obtaining inorganic sorbents for extracting lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. The method is carried by contacting a soluble niobate (V) with an acid in the presence of at least one zirconium (IV) salt to obtain a precipitate of a mixed hydrated niobium and zirconium oxide. Subsequent steps include granulating the precipitate by freezing, converting the product of granulation into a Li-form, calcining the Li-form, and converting the obtained granulated mixed lithium, niobium, and zirconium oxide into an ion-exchanger in an H-form. In the obtained H-form the inorganic sorbent is ready for use in lithium extraction processes.

Abstract: Proposed is a reliable and cost-effective universal material tester with reduced cross-talk between the sensors. The sensor unit consists of a pressure-sensor unit that measures a vertical force applied to the test probe during movement of the test probe relative to the test specimen and a horizontal force sensor unit for measuring the horizontally directed friction force. The horizontal force sensor unit is made in the form of a flexible parallelogram consisting of two sensor-holding plates interconnected through flexible beams, wherein one end of the first beam is attached to the upper sensor-holding plate and the opposite end to the lower sensor-holding plate, while one end of the second beam is attached to the lower sensor-holding plate and the other to the upper one. The beams are installed with gaps relative to both plates. The tester has a quick-release test probe that incorporates a soft-touch feature.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of producing soluble silicates with organic cations at a given silicate modulus in the range of 1.5 to 20. The method consists of the reacting liquid suspension of a silica sol with the aqueous solution of a strong organic base. The silicate modulus is a molar ratio of SiO2:M2O, wherein M is an organic alkali cation. The aqueous solution of a strong organic base has a constant of base dissociation pKb equal to or greater than 4. If necessary, the soluble silicates with organic cations are obtained in a powdered form by evaporating the solution of the soluble silicates under vacuum below 4.2 kPa and at a temperature in the range of 20 to 30° C. and the product of evaporation are then dried by spraying.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of producing soluble silicates with organic cations at a given silicate modulus in the range of 1.5 to 20. The method consists of the reacting liquid suspension of a silica sol with the aqueous solution of a strong organic base. The silicate modulus is a molar ratio of SiO2:M2O, wherein M is an organic alkali cation. The aqueous solution of a strong organic base has a constant of base dissociation pKb equal to or greater than 4. If necessary, the soluble silicates with organic cations are obtained in a powdered form by evaporating the solution of the soluble silicates under vacuum below 4.2 kPa and at a temperature in the range of 20 to 30° C. and the product of evaporation are then dried by spraying.