Solar-enhanced lithium extraction with self-sustaining water recycling from salt-lake brines

Solar-enhanced lithium extraction with self-sustaining water recycling from salt-lake brines

May 30, 2024 | Qiancheng Xia1,2, Zehui Deng1,2, Siwei Sun2, Wei Zhao2,4, Jie Ding3, Beidou Xi1,2, Guandao Gao2,4,2, and Chao Wang2,4
This study presents an integrated solar microevaporator system for efficient and sustainable lithium extraction from hypersaline salt-lake brines, addressing the challenges of sluggish adsorption kinetics and intensive water usage in current lithium extraction technologies. The system, composed of a dual-functional lithium titanate (LTO)/N-doped mesoporous carbon (NMC) nanocomposite loaded onto lightweight polystyrene (PS) microbeads, demonstrates a 98% solar energy harvesting efficiency. This efficiency significantly enhances the endothermic Li⁺ extraction process and solar steam generation. Under one sun irradiation, the Li⁺ recovery capacity increases from 12.4 mg g⁻¹ to 28.7 mg g⁻¹, and the adsorption kinetics rate doubles compared to conditions at 280 K (salt-lake temperature). The system also exhibits self-cleaning desalination capabilities, achieving near 100% water recovery from brines, which is crucial for self-sustaining Li⁺ elution. Outdoor experiments verified the system's stability and efficiency, with a lithium recovery rate of >8 mg g⁻¹ and water recovery of 440 m³ per ton of Li₂CO₃ produced. This integrated solution offers a promising approach for sustainable lithium extraction with near-zero water and carbon consumption, contributing to carbon neutrality.This study presents an integrated solar microevaporator system for efficient and sustainable lithium extraction from hypersaline salt-lake brines, addressing the challenges of sluggish adsorption kinetics and intensive water usage in current lithium extraction technologies. The system, composed of a dual-functional lithium titanate (LTO)/N-doped mesoporous carbon (NMC) nanocomposite loaded onto lightweight polystyrene (PS) microbeads, demonstrates a 98% solar energy harvesting efficiency. This efficiency significantly enhances the endothermic Li⁺ extraction process and solar steam generation. Under one sun irradiation, the Li⁺ recovery capacity increases from 12.4 mg g⁻¹ to 28.7 mg g⁻¹, and the adsorption kinetics rate doubles compared to conditions at 280 K (salt-lake temperature). The system also exhibits self-cleaning desalination capabilities, achieving near 100% water recovery from brines, which is crucial for self-sustaining Li⁺ elution. Outdoor experiments verified the system's stability and efficiency, with a lithium recovery rate of >8 mg g⁻¹ and water recovery of 440 m³ per ton of Li₂CO₃ produced. This integrated solution offers a promising approach for sustainable lithium extraction with near-zero water and carbon consumption, contributing to carbon neutrality.
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