A method for recovering lithium from lithium ion battery scrap according to this invention comprises subjecting lithium ion battery scrap to a calcination step, a crushing step, and a sieving step sequentially carried out, wherein the method comprises, between the calcination step and the crushing step, between the crushing step and the sieving step, or after the sieving step, a lithium dissolution step of bringing the lithium ion battery scrap into contact with water and dissolving lithium contained in the lithium ion battery scrap in the water to obtain a lithium-dissolved solution; a lithium concentration step of solvent-extracting lithium ions contained in the lithium-dissolved solution and stripping them to concentrate the lithium ions to obtain a lithium concentrate; and a carbonation step of carbonating the lithium ions in the lithium concentrate to obtain lithium carbonate.

Disclosed is a new continuous lithium-sodium separation method. A lithium-sodium separation mother solution, a first leacheate, a desorption solution, a second leacheate and a lithium-sodium separation adsorption tail solution respectively pass through a lithium-sodium separation mother solution feeding pipe (2), a first leacheate feeding pipe (3), a desorption solution feeding pipe (4), a second leacheate feeding pipe (5) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution feeding pipe (6) that are located above and below a rotary disc of a multi-way change-over valve system (1), respectively enter corresponding resin columns (7) by means of pore channels and channels in the multi-way change-over valve system (1), and then are discharged from an adsorption tail solution discharging pipe (8), a first leacheate discharging pipe (9), a qualified liquid discharging pipe (10), a second leacheate discharging pipe (11) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution discharging pipe (12), so as to complete the whole technological process, wherein the resin columns (7) are connected in series or in parallel by means of the channels located in the multi-way change-over valve system (1). The method is simple and easy to operate, the resin utilization rate is improved by 20% or more, the efficiency is improved by 40% or more, and the production cost can be reduced by 30-50%. The production reliability is improved, and all-year continuous operation can be realized.

Disclosed is a new continuous lithium-sodium separation method. A lithium-sodium separation mother solution, a first leacheate, a desorption solution, a second leacheate and a lithium-sodium separation adsorption tail solution respectively pass through a lithium-sodium separation mother solution feeding pipe (2), a first leacheate feeding pipe (3), a desorption solution feeding pipe (4), a second leacheate feeding pipe (5) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution feeding pipe (6) that are located above and below a rotary disc of a multi-way change-over valve system (1), respectively enter corresponding resin columns (7) by means of pore channels and channels in the multi-way change-over valve system (1), and then are discharged from an adsorption tail solution discharging pipe (8), a first leacheate discharging pipe (9), a qualified liquid discharging pipe (10), a second leacheate discharging pipe (11) and an adsorption tail solution top desorption solution discharging pipe (12), so as to complete the whole technological process, wherein the resin columns (7) are connected in series or in parallel by means of the channels located in the multi-way change-over valve system (1). The method is simple and easy to operate, the resin utilization rate is improved by 20% or more, the efficiency is improved by 40% or more, and the production cost can be reduced by 30-50%. The production reliability is improved, and all-year continuous operation can be realized.

Systems and methods use ion exchange to extract lithium from a lithium-containing feed solution such as a salar brine. Lithium ions are loaded into an ion exchange resin and then eluted while recharging the resin. Sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate may be used to recharge the resin but are not directly mixed with the lithium-containing feed solution. An eluate stream is produced containing lithium hydroxide or lithium bicarbonate. Lithium hydroxide can be precipitated as lithium hydroxide or in a hydrate form. Lithium bicarbonate may be converted to lithium carbonate. The system and method optionally includes processing an eluate stream to recover one or more compounds for re-use in regenerating the resin bed.

Systems and methods use ion exchange to extract lithium from a lithium-containing feed solution such as a salar brine. Lithium ions are loaded into an ion exchange resin and then eluted while recharging the resin. Sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate may be used to recharge the resin but are not directly mixed with the lithium-containing feed solution. An eluate stream is produced containing lithium hydroxide or lithium bicarbonate. Lithium hydroxide can be precipitated as lithium hydroxide or in a hydrate form. Lithium bicarbonate may be converted to lithium carbonate. The system and method optionally includes processing an eluate stream to recover one or more compounds for re-use in regenerating the resin bed.

The present disclosure provides Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) for selectively sequestering lithium from natural and synthetic brines, leachates, or other chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MRT extractants, ligands, beads and methods of making and using thereof.

The present disclosure provides Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) for selectively sequestering lithium from natural and synthetic brines, leachates, or other chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MRT extractants, ligands, beads and methods of making and using thereof.

The invention relates to a process for the production of lithium metal and lithium alloy mouldings, wherein solutions of metallic lithium in ammonia having the composition Li(NH.sub.3).sub.4+n and n=0-10 are brought into contact with metallic or electronically conductive deposition substrates and the ammonia is removed at temperatures of −100 to 100° C. by overflowing with inert gas or at pressures of 0.001 to 700 mbar, so that the remaining lithium is deposited on the deposition substrate or/and it is doped with lithium or alloyed by it.

The invention relates to a process for the production of lithium metal and lithium alloy mouldings, wherein solutions of metallic lithium in ammonia having the composition Li(NH.sub.3).sub.4+n and n=0-10 are brought into contact with metallic or electronically conductive deposition substrates and the ammonia is removed at temperatures of −100 to 100° C. by overflowing with inert gas or at pressures of 0.001 to 700 mbar, so that the remaining lithium is deposited on the deposition substrate or/and it is doped with lithium or alloyed by it.

There are provided processes comprising submitting an aqueous composition comprising lithium sulphate and/or bisulfate to an electrolysis or an electrodialysis for converting at least a portion of said sulphate into lithium hydroxide. During electrolysis or electrodialysis, the aqueous composition is at least substantially maintained at a pH having a value of about 1 to about 4; and converting said lithium hydroxide into lithium carbonate. Alternatively, lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate can be submitted to a first electromembrane process that comprises a two-compartment membrane process for conversion of lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate to lithium hydroxide, and obtaining a first lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a first lithium hydroxide-enriched aqueous stream; and submitting said first lithium-reduced aqueous stream to a second electromembrane process comprising a three-compartment membrane process to prepare at least a further portion of lithium hydroxide and obtaining a second lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a second lithium-hydroxide enriched aqueous stream.