Processes for preparing highly pure lithium carbonate and other highly pure lithium containing compounds
First Claim
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1. A method of producing high purity lithium carbonate, the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a first aqueous solution containing lithium sulfate to an electrochemical cell;
electrolyzing the first aqueous solution to produce a second aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and a third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide;
reacting the third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce a fourth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate;
separating the fourth aqueous solution from the carbon dioxide and lithium carbonate solids using a gas-liquid-solid separator;
filtering the fourth aqueous solution to remove trace impurities; and
feeding the filtered fourth aqueous solution to a precipitation reactor to precipitate highly pure lithium carbonate.
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Abstract
The invention generally relates to methods of selectively removing lithium from various liquids, methods of producing high purity lithium carbonate, methods of producing high purity lithium hydroxide, and methods of regenerating resin.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing high purity lithium carbonate, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a first aqueous solution containing lithium sulfate to an electrochemical cell; electrolyzing the first aqueous solution to produce a second aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and a third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide; reacting the third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce a fourth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate; separating the fourth aqueous solution from the carbon dioxide and lithium carbonate solids using a gas-liquid-solid separator; filtering the fourth aqueous solution to remove trace impurities; and feeding the filtered fourth aqueous solution to a precipitation reactor to precipitate highly pure lithium carbonate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of producing high purity lithium carbonate, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a first aqueous solution containing lithium sulfate to an electrochemical cell; electrolyzing the first aqueous solution to produce a second aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and a third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide; reacting the third aqueous solution containing high purity lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce a fourth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate; separating the fourth aqueous solution from the carbon dioxide and lithium carbonate solids; filtering the fourth aqueous solution to remove trace impurities; feeding the filtered fourth aqueous solution to a precipitation reactor to precipitate highly pure lithium carbonate and a fifth aqueous solution containing lithium bicarbonate; and supplying the fifth aqueous solution to a reverse osmosis apparatus to produce highly pure lithium carbonate, wherein the reverse osmosis apparatus is operable to remove CO2 from the fifth aqueous solution and cause lithium carbonate to precipitate.
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Specification