Abstract: A method of concentrating and/or producing lithium hydroxide in an evaporator entails feeding a stream comprising lithium, hydroxide and carbonate to the evaporator. In the evaporator, the feed is concentrated to form lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate crystals. Further, the method entails reducing the tendency of lithium carbonate to scale the evaporator by increasing the concentration of lithium carbonate crystals in the evaporator by: (1) clarifying at least a portion of the concentrate in the evaporator to form a clarified solution; and (2) discharging the clarified solution as a clarified solution stream from the evaporator.

Abstract: A low-voltage, low-energy electrochemical system and method of removing protons and/or producing a base solution comprising hydroxide and carbonate/bicarbonate ions, utilizing carbon dioxide in a cathode compartment that is partitioned into a first cathode electrolyte compartment and a second cathode electrolyte compartment such that liquid flow between the cathode electrolyte compartments is possible, but wherein gaseous communication to between the cathode electrolyte compartments is restricted. Carbon dioxide gas in one cathode electrolyte compartment is utilized with the cathode electrolyte in both compartments to produce the base solution with less that 3V applied across the electrodes.

Abstract: A method including electrolysis processing using sulfate-based electrolytes includes precipitating sodium sulfate decahydrate from a salt solution and then redissolving sodium sulfate decahydrate to prepare feed of electrolyte solution for the electrolysis processing. Front-end processing may be used to treat mixed salt solutions, including brine solutions. Calcium sulfate reagent may provide a sulfate source to regenerate electrolyte solution following carbon capture, and with carbon dioxide being sequestered in the form of calcium carbonate.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for reduction of the CO2 content of flue and atmospheric gases and equipment for application of the method. The characteristic of the solution according to the invention is, that “hydroxide” ionized water containing (OH?) ions of alkaline characteristics is used as reaction medium for binding carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas gets into reaction with alkaline ionized water, and during the reaction from the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and water, carbonate ion (CO32?) and hydrogencarbonate/bicarbonate (2HCO3?) are formed, and they leave for the outside atmosphere and/or outside water with the bound CO2 content in stable gas or liquid form.

Abstract: This invention relates to the separation of lithium from lithium-containing materials, primarily ores such as hectoritic montmorillonite, having about 0.1 to 1.0 percent lithium by weight. The process comprises reducing the particle size of the material to less than about 150 microns; mixing the material with a solid source of sulfates and carbonates at predetermined ratios; granulating the mix with an aqueous solvent in order to obtain granules of 1-10 mm; reacting the granules at temperatures of 950-1100° C.; slurrying the reaction products with an aqueous solution; heating the resulting slurry at about 50° to 100° C. for from about 0.

Abstract: A method for producing an alkali metal hydroxide, comprises providing an electrolytic cell that includes at least one membrane having ceramic material configured to selectively transport alkali metal ions. The method includes introducing a first solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide solution into a catholyte compartment such that said first solution is in communication with the membrane and a cathode. A second solution comprising at least one alkali metal salt and one or more monovalent, divalent, or multivalent metal salts is introduced into an anolyte compartment such that said second solution is in communication with the membrane and an anode. The method includes applying an electric potential to the electrolytic cell such that alkali metal ions pass through the membrane and are available to undertake a chemical reaction with hydroxyl ions in the catholyte compartment to form alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing alkalinity and performance of ash-based detergents are disclosed. Nonhazardous ash-based detergent alkalinity is enhanced through increasing the ratio of sodium hydroxide to ash-based alkalinity. Methods according to the invention do not require the addition of chemical ingredients, do not generate additional waste streams and use the entirety of the ash-based detergent. The methods according to the invention provide alkalinity-enhanced detergent use solutions that are sufficiently concentrated for adequate cleaning capability while only requiring minimal amounts of the use solution to be dispensed for an in situ cleaning process.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems to produce sodium carbonate (soda ash). The methods and systems provided herein modify a Solvay process by integrating it with an electrochemical process to produce a less carbon dioxide intensive Solvay process and an environmentally friendly sodium carbonate product.

Abstract: Alkali bicarbonate is synthesized in an electrolytic cell from alkali carbonate. The electrolytic cell includes an alkali ion conductive membrane positioned between an anolyte compartment configured with an anode and a catholyte compartment configured with a cathode. The alkali conductive membrane selectively transports alkali ions and prevents the transport of anions produced in the catholyte compartment. An aqueous alkali carbonate solution is introduced into the anolyte compartment and electrolyzed at the anode to produce carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen ions which react with alkali carbonate to produce alkali bicarbonate. The alkali bicarbonate is recovered by filtration or other separation techniques. When the catholyte solution includes water, pure alkali hydroxide is produced. When the catholyte solution includes methanol, pure alkali methoxide is produced.

Abstract: A low-energy electrochemical method and system of forming bicarbonate ion solutions in an electrochemical cell utilizing carbon dioxide in contact with an electrolyte contained between two ion exchange membranes in an electrochemical cell. On applying a low voltage across an anode and cathode in electrical contact with the ion exchange membranes, bicarbonate ions form in the electrolyte without forming a gas, e.g., chlorine or oxygen at the electrodes.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen gas from a reaction of carbon monoxide with a base. Hydrogen is produced in a reaction of a base with carbon monoxide that proceeds through the formation of a bicarbonate or carbonate compound as a by-product. In some embodiments, the reaction may occur in the presence of water and may produce carbon dioxide as a by-product. The instant base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous than the water-gas shift reaction and are able to produce hydrogen gas from carbon monoxide at greater reaction rates than is possible with the water-gas shift reaction. Carbon monoxide in a purified or unpurified state or as a component within a mixture of gases is suitable for use in the instant invention. Metal hydroxides are the preferred base reactant. The base reactant can be in the solid phase, molten phase, liquid phase or solution phase.

Abstract: Process for the joint production of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate out of sesquicarbonate, in which the sesquicarbonate is dissolved in water, in order to form a feed water solution comprising both sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, in which at least part of the feed water solution is introduced into all the compartments of an electrodialyser and in which a sodium bicarbonate enriched solution and a sodium carbonate enriched solution are extracted from the compartments.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the concentration of a first inorganic compound in a first aqueous solution of a first process of a heavy chemical plant, the method comprising (a) feeding the first solution having the first compound at a first concentration and a first water vapor pressure to an osmotic membrane distillation means comprising a hydrophobic, gas and water vapor permeable membrane separating (i) a first chamber for receiving the first solution, from (ii) a second chamber for receiving a receiver feed aqueous solution having a second water vapor pressure lower than the first water vapor pressure; (b) feeding the receiver aqueous feed solution to the second chamber as to effect transfer of water vapor through the membrane from the first chamber to the second chamber, and to produce (i) a resultant first solution having a second concentration of the first compound greater than the first concentration and (ii) a diluted receiver feed aqueous solution; and (c) collecting the resultant first solution.