A method of manufacturing an inorganic ion exchanger for the selective extraction of lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines is performed by interacting at least one soluble niobium(V) compound with an acid that contains at least one iron(III) compound, thus forming an electrolyte that contains a hydrated niobium(V) oxide and a hydrated iron(III) oxide, which co-precipitate and form a precipitate of a mixed hydrated niobium(V) and iron(III) oxide. The precipitate is washed, an excess of the electrolyte is removed, and the product is granulated with subsequent conversion into a lithium form, which is calcined and is converted to an H-form of the inorganic ion exchanger by treating thereof with an acid solution. the addition of Fe.sup.3+ ions contained in the iron(III) compound to the sorbent composition allows obtaining inorganic ion-exchange sorbents with a specific structure, which provides high selectivity, especially for lithium ions.

A sorbent based monitoring system for measuring the solute concentration of at least one component of a fluid. The system has a sorbent regeneration system for regeneration of the fluid and has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer. The fluid is conveyed through the sorbent cartridge and contacts at least one sensor after having contacted at least one material layer.

A sorbent based monitoring system for measuring the solute concentration of at least one component of a fluid. The system has a sorbent regeneration system for regeneration of the fluid and has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer. The fluid is conveyed through the sorbent cartridge and contacts at least one sensor after having contacted at least one material layer.

A sorbent based monitoring system for measuring the solute concentration of at least one component of a fluid. The system has a sorbent regeneration system for regeneration of the fluid and has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer. The fluid is conveyed through the sorbent cartridge and contacts at least one sensor after having contacted at least one material layer.

A method of sorbent dialysis is provided for enhanced removal of uremic toxins, such as toxic anions and/or organic solutes, from spent dialysate. More highly adsorbable zirconium polymeric complexes of these anions and/or organic solutes can be initially formed in spent dialysate by treatment with zirconium salt solution or other zirconium cation source, and then removed with adsorbent to provide purified or regenerated dialysate. Sorbent dialysis systems for detoxifying spent dialysate containing toxic anions and organic solutes are also provided.

A method of sorbent dialysis is provided for enhanced removal of uremic toxins, such as toxic anions and/or organic solutes, from spent dialysate. More highly adsorbable zirconium polymeric complexes of these anions and/or organic solutes can be initially formed in spent dialysate by treatment with zirconium salt solution or other zirconium cation source, and then removed with adsorbent to provide purified or regenerated dialysate. Sorbent dialysis systems for detoxifying spent dialysate containing toxic anions and organic solutes are also provided.

An inorganic ion adsorbent represents by Formula (1) below, wherein in powder X-ray diffraction measurement using CuK radiation, the diffraction intensity of tetragonal tin oxide is at least 3% relative to the diffraction intensity of antimony pentoxide (Sb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.2H.sub.2O), and the diffraction intensity of cubic antimony pentoxide is no greater than 40% relative to the diffraction intensity of antimony pentoxide (Sb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.2H.sub.2O),
SnO.sub.2.Math.aSb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.nH.sub.2O(1)
wherein in the Formula, a denotes a number that satisfies 0.2a4 and n denotes hydration number and is 0 or a positive number.

An inorganic ion adsorbent represents by Formula (1) below, wherein in powder X-ray diffraction measurement using CuK radiation, the diffraction intensity of tetragonal tin oxide is at least 3% relative to the diffraction intensity of antimony pentoxide (Sb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.2H.sub.2O), and the diffraction intensity of cubic antimony pentoxide is no greater than 40% relative to the diffraction intensity of antimony pentoxide (Sb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.2H.sub.2O),
SnO.sub.2.Math.aSb.sub.2O.sub.5.Math.nH.sub.2O(1)
wherein in the Formula, a denotes a number that satisfies 0.2a4 and n denotes hydration number and is 0 or a positive number.

According to the method and device for a membrane-based processing of ambient water-group species, the species are captured in a space environment by an ionic liquid disposed on a presenting face of a semipermeable membrane. To seamlessly process the captured species for in-situ resource utilization without need of moving parts, they are urged to pass through the membrane by a predetermined electric potential difference applied between opposite sides of the membrane via electrode contacts; an initial storage envelope is provided by an impermeable membrane attached to a back face of the semipermeable membrane. The device can be stowed in a manner of rolled plastic and deployed by unrolling. The device can also be configured as a scientific instrument to monitor a flux of ambient water-group species impinging in the space environment using electrical measurements.

According to the method and device for a membrane-based processing of ambient water-group species, the species are captured in a space environment by an ionic liquid disposed on a presenting face of a semipermeable membrane. To seamlessly process the captured species for in-situ resource utilization without need of moving parts, they are urged to pass through the membrane by a predetermined electric potential difference applied between opposite sides of the membrane via electrode contacts; an initial storage envelope is provided by an impermeable membrane attached to a back face of the semipermeable membrane. The device can be stowed in a manner of rolled plastic and deployed by unrolling. The device can also be configured as a scientific instrument to monitor a flux of ambient water-group species impinging in the space environment using electrical measurements.