Inorganic ion-exchanger for selective extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and industrial brines
View Patent ↗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: H a NbO (2,5+0,5·a) ·b L 2 O· c WO 3 ·d H 2 O; 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.
1. An inorganic ion-exchanger in the form of solid particles comprising 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:
H a NbO (2,5+0,5·a) · bLi 2 O·cWO 3 · dH 2 O;
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.
2. The inorganic ion-exchanger, according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric aqua-oxo-hydroxo complex is a polymeric aqua-oxo-hydroxo complex of niobium and tungsten.
3. The inorganic ion-exchanger, according to claim 2 , wherein the polymeric aqua-oxo-hydroxo complex of niobium and tungsten is a mixed polynuclear complex.
4. The inorganic ion-exchanger, according claim 1 , which has a total ion exchange capacity of at least 2.8 meq/g and an ion-exchange capacity specifically to lithium of at least 2.3 meq/g.
5. The inorganic ion-exchanger, according to claim 2 , which has a total ion exchange capacity of at least 2.8 meq/g and an ion-exchange capacity specifically to lithium of at least 2.3 meq/g.
6. The inorganic ion-exchanger, according to claim 3 , which has a total ion exchange capacity of at least 2.8 meq/g and an ion-exchange capacity specifically to lithium of at least 2.3 meq/g.
7. The inorganic ion-exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the solid particles have dimensions in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm.
8. The inorganic ion-exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the solid particles have dimensions in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm.
9. The inorganic ion-exchanger of claim 4 , wherein the solid particles have dimensions in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm.
10. The inorganic ion-exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the solid particles have dimensions in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm.