Comparative Study on Lithium Recovery with Ion-Selective Adsorbents and Extractants: Results of Multi-Stage Screening Test with the Use of Brine Simulated Solutions with Increasing Complexity

Ewa Knapik, Grzegorz Rotko, Marta Marszałek () and Marcin Piotrowski
Additional contact information
Ewa Knapik: Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Grzegorz Rotko: Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Marta Marszałek: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Marcin Piotrowski: Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Oil (and natural gas) field brines can be considered promising sources of lithium for the sustainable supply of a growing market. To date, many materials have been developed for direct lithium recovery from brines, but most often these materials have been tested under various conditions, what makes it impossible to compare them. The aim of this research is to provide knowledge that would enable the comparison and selection of effective sorbents for different types of brines. For this purpose, an eight-step experimental protocol was employed. The recovery tests started with a pure lithium solution (300 mg/kg), and then other salts were gradually added, resulting in a brine containing Li + (220 mg/kg), Na + (7.21 wt%), Ca 2+ (3.0 wt%) and Mg 2+ (1000 mg/kg). For selected cases, the effect of pH was also investigated. Fifty materials (including ion exchange resins, organophosphate extractants, mineral adsorbents) were examined, for which the distribution coefficient and lithium recovery were determined. Moreover, for the most promising materials, lithium over magnesium selectivity and lithium ion capacity were determined. Only γ-Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 and MnO x -based powders keep their effectiveness in ultra-high salinity ranges and in the presence of high concentrations of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in alkaline solution.

Keywords: lithium; lithium recovery; oil field brine; lithium-selective material; adsorbent; extractant; sorption; multi-stage screening test; testing protocol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/7/3149/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/7/3149/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:7:p:3149-:d:1112316

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().