Inorganic Chemicals Industry ›› 2023, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (11): 86-92.doi: 10.19964/j.issn.1006-4990.2023-0142

• Industrial Techniques • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Pilot study on lithium extraction by adsorption from raw brine of magnesium sulfate subtype salt lakes in Tibet

LAI Xianrong(), CHEN Zhouqin, SUN Hao, YANG Chao   

  1. Sichuan Fanyu Lithium New Material Technology Co.,Ltd.,Deyang 618000,China
  • Received:2023-03-14 Online:2023-11-10 Published:2023-11-16

Abstract:

Taking a representative magnesium sulfate subtype salt-lake in Tibet as the research object,the world′s first pilot production line for lithium extraction from raw brine in the salt-lake was established using the manganese-based adsorbent as lithium carrier in the world.The adsorption/desorption operating parameters under pilot conditions were researched,and the optimal operating conditions obtained were:brine flow rate of 2.0 BV/h,brine volume of 12 BV,and pH adjuster mass fraction of 0.03%.The concentration of sulfuric acid used for desorption was 0.06 mol/L,the flow rate of dilute acid was 3.0 BV/h,and the volume of dilute acid was 5.5~6.0 BV.Under this condition,the total lithium recovery rate of brine was ≥90%,the average operating adsorption capacity of lithium ions was ≥4 mg/g,the average magnesium removal rate was ≥99.0%,and the dissolution loss rate of the adsorbent in each cycle was ≤0.05%.After three months of continuous operation,this pilot production line had produced over 50 t of industrial grade lithium carbonate.The production cost of lithium carbonate for the new lithium extraction process was 35 460 RMB/t,which was lower to the production cost of lithium carbonate by ore-based lithium extraction and lithium extraction using aluminum-based adsorbents.

Key words: adsorption, magnesium sulfate subtype salt lake, raw brine, lithium extraction, manganese-based adsorbent

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