Abstract: Morphologically altered pellets of a polycrystalline hydrated alumina, intercalated with LiX (where LiX is a lithium salt, preferably LiCl), is prepared by contacting the polycrystalline structure with LiX solution carried in NaCl brine, the LiX creating lithium-specific sites of intercalation in the crystalline structure, and the material is used in a LiX absorption process involving unloading LiX from the pellets, and then passing a LiX-containing brine through the pellets to capture more LiX in the Li-depleted active sites, and repeating the unloading and loading of the LiX a plurality of cycles. The unloaded LiX is collected as crude product which can be concentrated by evaporation and removing precipitated NaCl.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition comprising pellets, each of said pellets consisting essentially of an integral mass of polycrystalline material of randomly disposed crystals of hydrated alumina infused with an amount of LiX to produce LiX/Al(OH)3 having up to a mol fraction of 0.33 of LiX in the so-produced LiX/Al(OH)3, wherein LiX is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Li hydroxide, Li halide, Li nitrate, Li sulfate, and Li bicarbonate. The present invention further includes methods of preparing the composition and methods of recovery lithium values from brine using the composition.

Abstract: Crystalline 2-layer LiOH.2Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2 O, preferably supported by a porous substrate, is prepared by treating crystalline 2-layer LiX.2Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2 O, where X is anion, with a LiOH solution or other hydroxide ion source. The so-formed crystalline 2-layer LiOH.2Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2 O is particularly suitable for exchange of the OH ion with larger X' ions to produce other crystalline 2-layer LiX'.2Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2 O.

Abstract: Pellets of a polycrystalline hydrated alumina, especially Gibbsite, are infused with LiOH to obtain loadings up to 0.33 mol fraction of LiOH in the LiOH/Al(OH).sub.3. The so-prepared material is useful for mixing with a LiX-containing brine solution, producing an interaction of the LiOH infused in the alumina pellets with the X ion (where X represents an acid salt moiety, especially halide) of the LiX-containing brine. The LiX interaction product is efficiently removed from the alumina pellets by water washing, leaving rejuvenated LiOH which can be used in yet another cycling of LiX formation/water removal. A plurality of loading and unloading cycles are achieved, yielding an appreciable amount of the lithium values derived from the brine.

Abstract: The bayerite form of crystalline alumina, Al(OH).sub.3, contained within a macroporous ion exchange resin is converted to the gibbsite form of Al(OH).sub.3 by reaction with hot MgX.sub.2, where X is halide, followed by water-washing the MgX.sub.2 portion from the product, thereby causing the conversion of bayerite to the gibbsite form of crystalline Al(OH).sub.3. The gibbsite form may then be reacted with hot LiX solution, where X is anion, to form crystalline 2-layer LiX.2Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2 O.