公开(公告)号：US20180353907A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15736540

申请日：2015-10-16

Applicant: ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

Inventor： Jackson R. Switzer ,  Chi Hung Cheng ,  Steven R. Alferi

IPC: B01D61/02 ,  B01D71/16 ,  B01J20/28

CPC classification number: B01D61/022 ,  B01D61/027 ,  B01D71/16 ,  B01D2311/25 ,  B01D2317/022 ,  B01D2317/025 ,  B01J20/24 ,  B01J20/262 ,  B01J20/28035 ,  C02F1/441 ,  C02F1/442 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2301/08

Abstract: A process for removing at least Ca2+ and Mg2+ from a lithium-containing brine. The process comprises (i) providing an aqueous lithium-containing brine feed comprising dissolved Ca2+ and Mg2+ impurities in a weight ratio of Li+:Ca2+ of about 4:1 to 50:1 wt/wt and in a weight ratio of Li+:Mg2+ of about 4:1 to 50:1; (ii) subjecting said brine feed to nanofiltration to produce a lithium-containing permeate from which Ca2+ and Mg2+ components are being removed concurrently; and (iii) conducting the nanofiltration so that a separation occurs and a retentate solution is formed with a total amount of Ca2+ and Mg2+ of at least 75% of the total amount of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the original aqueous lithium-containing brine feed and forming an aqueous lithium-containing permeate solution in which the total content of dissolved Ca2+ and Mg2+ is decreased to 25% or less as compared to the original aqueous lithium-containing brine feed.

公开(公告)号：US20180245180A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15754113

申请日：2015-10-16

Applicant: Albemarle Corporation

Inventor： Chi Hung Cheng ,  Jackson R. Switzer ,  Jan Nieman

IPC: C22B26/12 ,  B01J20/04 ,  B01J20/08 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J20/30 ,  C01D15/04

CPC classification number: C22B26/12 ,  B01J20/041 ,  B01J20/046 ,  B01J20/08 ,  B01J20/28004 ,  B01J20/28057 ,  B01J20/3085 ,  B01J2220/56 ,  C01D15/04

Abstract: Producing high purity lithium solution from a lithium source containing dissolved Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, by: passing the source into and out of a bed of sorbent composed of hydrated alumina intercalated with LiX, preferably LiCl, to extract lithium from the lithium source into the sorbent; washing the bed of sorbent with dilute aqueous LiCl to remove lithium from the sorbent to obtain a lithium eluent of increased Li+ concentration; subjecting this eluent to nanofiltration to produce a lithium permeate from which Ca2+, Mg2+, and other nanofilterable components are concurrently removed, yielding a permeate solution with 25% or less, and a retentate solution with 75% or more Ca2+ and Mg2+, as compared to the eluent from washing; and subjecting the permeate solution to a particular forward osmosis yielding a solution having 13,000-25,000 ppm dissolved lithium. Specified optional steps and new features can be used to increase lithium concentrations and purity.

公开(公告)号：US20180147532A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-31

申请号：US15520519

申请日：2015-10-16

Applicant: Albemarle Corporation

Inventor： Jackson Reeves Switzer ,  Neal J. Colonius ,  Chi Hung Cheng ,  Pieter Johannes Daudey

IPC: B01D61/58 ,  C01D15/04 ,  B01D61/02 ,  B01D69/12 ,  B01D61/00 ,  C02F1/44 ,  C02F103/02 ,  C02F103/10

CPC classification number: B01D61/58 ,  B01D61/002 ,  B01D61/025 ,  B01D69/125 ,  B01D2311/103 ,  B01D2311/25 ,  B01D2315/10 ,  C01D15/04 ,  C02F1/445 ,  C02F2103/02 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2209/001 ,  C02F2209/02 ,  C02F2301/08 ,  Y02W10/37

Abstract: A forward osmosis process for concentration of lithium-containing salt solutions is described. A difference in osmotic pressure between a lithium-containing salt solution and a second salt solution of higher osmotic pressure is used as a driving force to pass water through a semi-permeable forward osmosis membrane from said lithium-containing salt solution of lower osmotic pressure to the salt solution of higher osmotic pressure. Also, a two-part operation is described wherein reverse osmosis process technology and forward osmosis process technology are used in tandem to concentrate lithium-containing salt solutions and to recover water that can be recycled to the process. The forward osmosis process is conducted without requiring (i) use of superatmospheric pressure or (ii) use of subatmospheric pressure or (iii) use of both such pressures, or (iv) use of one or more additives to assist in causing the flow of water through a forward osmosis membrane.

公开(公告)号：US20170333867A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-23

申请号：US15522829

申请日：2015-10-16

Applicant: Albemarle Corporation

Inventor： Chi Hung Cheng ,  Jan Nieman ,  Gregory Alan Marus

IPC: B01J20/04 ,  C22B7/00 ,  B01J20/08 ,  C01D15/04 ,  B01J20/30 ,  B01J20/28 ,  C22B26/12 ,  B01J20/34

CPC classification number: B01J20/046 ,  B01J20/041 ,  B01J20/08 ,  B01J20/28004 ,  B01J20/28016 ,  B01J20/28057 ,  B01J20/28059 ,  B01J20/3035 ,  B01J20/3085 ,  B01J20/3433 ,  B01J20/3475 ,  C01D15/04 ,  C01F7/002 ,  C01P2006/80 ,  C22B7/006 ,  C22B26/12

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the preparation of granular sorbent, useful to recover lithium values from brine. The process comprises reacting a granular aluminum hydroxide with an aqueous solution containing lithium salt and alkali hydroxide, optionally in the presence of alkali chloride. The granular aluminum hydroxide can be a compressed aluminum hydroxide having an average particle size of at least 300 microns. The granular sorbent obtained by the method and its use to recover lithium values from brine are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20220081306A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-17

申请号：US17423250

申请日：2020-01-31

Applicant: Albemarle Corporation

Inventor： Chi Hung Cheng

IPC: C01B35/12 ,  B01D11/04 ,  C02F1/02 ,  C02F1/26

Abstract: One or more methods are described for extracting boron. The one or more methods include combining a combination comprising an alcohol, an organic solvent and boron, with an aqueous solution comprising an alkali hydroxide so as to form an organic layer and an aqueous layer. The aqueous layer may be separated from the organic layer.

公开(公告)号：US10648061B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-12

申请号：US15754113

申请日：2015-10-16

Applicant: Albemarle Corporation

Inventor： Chi Hung Cheng ,  Jackson R. Switzer ,  Jan Nieman

IPC: C22B26/12 ,  C01D15/04 ,  B01J20/04 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J20/30 ,  B01J20/08

Abstract: Producing high purity lithium solution from a lithium source containing dissolved Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, by: passing the source into and out of a bed of sorbent composed of hydrated alumina intercalated with LiX, preferably LiCl, to extract lithium from the lithium source into the sorbent; washing the bed of sorbent with dilute aqueous LiCl to remove lithium from the sorbent to obtain a lithium eluent of increased Li+ concentration; subjecting this eluent to nanofiltration to produce a lithium permeate from which Ca2+, Mg2+, and other nanofilterable components are concurrently removed, yielding a permeate solution with 25% or less, and a retentate solution with 75% or more Ca2+ and Mg2+, as compared to the eluent from washing; and subjecting the permeate solution to a particular forward osmosis yielding a solution having 13,000-25,000 ppm dissolved lithium. Specified optional steps and new features can be used to increase lithium concentrations and purity.