Lithium recovery from Qarham brine using adsorption-membrane separation hybrid system

doi:10.11949/j.issn.0438-1157.20161727

Abstract

Abstract:

Lithium uptake from brine has attracted great interest in recent years. An adsorption and membrane separation coupling system used for recovery lithium from brine with high ratio of magnesium to lithium. Lithium ion sieve H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄(HMO) was obtained from o-LiMnO₂ which was prepared by one-step hydrothermal synthesis and its adsorption property in Qarham brine was studied. The results showed that the particle size of HMO was between 100 to 500 nm and its adsorption capacity of Li⁺ in brine reached 31.44 mg·g^-1. Ceramic membrane with pore size of 50 nm showed the highest permeation flux (150 L·m^-2·h^-1) and 100% rejection of lithium ion sieves. During the adsorption-membrane continue process, the extraction rate of lithium was more than 97%, and backflushing could effectively enhance the membrane filtration process. The fouled ceramic membrane was recovered with HCl and H₂O₂ solution. The results implied that the adsorption-membrane separation hybrid system could be used for lithium extraction from brine with high Mg/Li ratio, and had a good application prospect.

Key words: ceramic membrane, ion sieve, adsorption, separation of lithium and magnesium, brine

摘要：

将锰系离子筛吸附与陶瓷膜耦合，用于高镁锂比盐湖卤水的提锂研究。采用水热法制备了高效锂离子筛H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄，考察离子筛用于卤水提锂效果和陶瓷膜的分离性能。结果表明：制备的离子筛粉体粒径分布在100～500 nm之间，平均粒径为160 nm，用于察尔汗盐湖卤水中对Li⁺吸附容量达到31.44 mg·g^-1；孔径50 nm的陶瓷膜对离子筛的截留率达到100%，膜渗透通量大于150 L·m^-2·h^-1；反冲操作可有效维持吸附-膜分离过程的稳定性，吸附与陶瓷膜的耦合过程对盐湖卤水中的锂提取率超过97%，盐酸和双氧水清洗可有效恢复膜渗透通量。研究结果为高镁锂比盐湖卤水提锂提供了新方法。

关键词: 陶瓷膜, 离子筛, 吸附, 镁锂分离, 盐湖卤水

CLC Number:

MENG Qingwei, ZHANG Feng, CHEN Lu, XIA Yongsheng, JU Shengui, XING Weihong. Lithium recovery from Qarham brine using adsorption-membrane separation hybrid system[J]. CIESC Journal, 2017, 68(5): 1899-1905.

孟庆伟, 张峰, 陈璐, 夏永生, 居沈贵, 邢卫红. 离子筛吸附与陶瓷膜耦合用于盐湖卤水提锂[J]. 化工学报, 2017, 68(5): 1899-1905.

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