Porous activated alumina based sorbent for lithium extraction
This invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium activated alumina intercalate solid by contacting a three-dimensional activated alumina with a lithium salt under conditions sufficient to infuse lithium salts into activated alumina for the selective extraction and recovery of lithium from lithium containing solutions, including brines.
1. A method for preparing a sorbent composition for the recovery of lithium from a lithium containing brine, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
preparing a lithium/activated alumina composition solid by contacting a lithium compound with a three-dimensionally structured porous activated alumina under conditions sufficient to infuse the activated alumina with the lithium compound to provide an infused activated alumina comprising a lithium intercalate material;
wherein the step of contacting the lithium compound with the three dimensionally structured porous activated alumina is performed in the presence of a hydroxide, carboxylate, carbonate, borate, acetate, phosphates, phosphonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, sulfonate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide of an alkaline or alkaline earth metal; and
wherein the lithium intercalate material has a mole ratio of lithium to aluminum in the intercalate material is up to about 0.5:1.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lithium compound comprises lithium chloride.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lithium compound comprises lithium hydroxide.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the lithium compound further comprises lithium hydroxide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the lithium compound with the three-dimensionally structured porous activated alumina occurs at a pH that is greater than about 10.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxide is selected from sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising neutralizing the infused activated alumina with hydrochloric acid.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising neutralizing the infused activated alumina with nitric acid.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising neutralizing the infused activated alumina with a weak acid buffer solution.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the weak acid for the buffer solution is selected from a carboxylic, boric, phosphonic, phosphoric, sulfonic, carbonic and bicarbonic acids.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the infused activated alumina is neutralized with a neutralizing solution, wherein the neutralizing solution comprises a weak acid buffer and between about 5-25% by weight of a metal halide.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the weak acid buffer comprises a carboxylic acid.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the weak acid buffer is acetic acid.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metal halide comprises a metal chloride.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activated alumina comprises more than one phase.
16. A method for preparing a sorbent composition for the recovery of lithium from a lithium containing brine, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
preparing a lithium/activated alumina composition solid by contacting a lithium compound with a three-dimensionally structured porous activated alumina under conditions sufficient to infuse the activated alumina with the lithium compound to provide an infused activated alumina comprising a lithium intercalate material;
wherein the lithium intercalate material has a mole ratio of lithium to aluminum in the intercalate material is up to about 0.5:1; and
neutralizing the infused activated alumina with at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and a weak acid buffer solution.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the weak acid for the buffer solution is selected from a acetic, carboxylic, boric, phosphonic, phosphoric, sulfonic, carbonic, and bicarbonic acid.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lithium compound comprises at least one of lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide.
19. A method for preparing a sorbent composition for the recovery of lithium from a lithium containing brine, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
preparing a lithium/activated alumina composition solid by contacting a lithium compound with a three-dimensionally structured porous activated alumina under conditions sufficient to infuse the activated alumina with the lithium compound to provide an infused activated alumina comprising a lithium intercalate material;
wherein the step of contacting the lithium compound with the three-dimensionally structured porous activated alumina occurs at a pH that is greater than about 10; and
wherein the lithium intercalate material has a mole ratio of lithium to aluminum in the intercalate material is up to about 0.5:1.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising neutralizing the infused activated alumina with at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and a weak acid buffer solution.