The present invention relates to the extraction of lithium from liquid resources such as natural and synthetic brines, leachate solutions from clays and minerals, and recycled products.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysate regenerator for connecting to a dialysis apparatus, the dialysate regenerator including a regenerator inlet for receiving dialysate; a regenerator outlet for dispensing regenerated dialysate; a hydraulic circuit connected between the regenerator inlet and the regenerator outlet, and further including a fluid portioning system to divide a dialysate flow into uniform portions for sequential regeneration An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysis system including a dialysis apparatus including: a fresh dialysate input; a spent dialysate output; and the dialysate regenerator, wherein the regenerator inlet may be coupled to the spent dialysate output for receiving spent dialysate, and wherein the regenerator outlet may be coupled to the fresh dialysate input for dispensing regenerated dialysate.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysate regenerator for connecting to a dialysis apparatus, the dialysate regenerator including a regenerator inlet for receiving dialysate; a regenerator outlet for dispensing regenerated dialysate; a hydraulic circuit connected between the regenerator inlet and the regenerator outlet, and further including a fluid portioning system to divide a dialysate flow into uniform portions for sequential regeneration An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysis system including a dialysis apparatus including: a fresh dialysate input; a spent dialysate output; and the dialysate regenerator, wherein the regenerator inlet may be coupled to the spent dialysate output for receiving spent dialysate, and wherein the regenerator outlet may be coupled to the fresh dialysate input for dispensing regenerated dialysate.

A spinel sorbent for adsorbing lithium ions from a liquid is provided. The sorbent has the general formula Li.sub.1 +xMn.sub.2yM1.sub.m1M2.sub.m2 . . . Mk.sub.mkO.sub.4+z, where M1, M2, . . . , Mk are cations different than lithium or manganese; m1, m2, . . . mk are each greater than or equal to 0; x can vary in the range of 0 and 1; y can vary in the range of 0.1 and 0.9; z can vary in the range of 2 and 1; where +m1+m2+ . . . +mk; and k is zero or a positive integer. The sorbent has a cubic close packed (CPP) lattice defining a interplanar distance y=x configured to allow passage of lithium ions through the interplanar distance and prevent passage of manganese through the interplanar distance; and has ion exchange sites configured to reversibly ion-exchange a lithium ion.

A spinel sorbent for adsorbing lithium ions from a liquid is provided. The sorbent has the general formula Li.sub.1 +xMn.sub.2yM1.sub.m1M2.sub.m2 . . . Mk.sub.mkO.sub.4+z, where M1, M2, . . . , Mk are cations different than lithium or manganese; m1, m2, . . . mk are each greater than or equal to 0; x can vary in the range of 0 and 1; y can vary in the range of 0.1 and 0.9; z can vary in the range of 2 and 1; where +m1+m2+ . . . +mk; and k is zero or a positive integer. The sorbent has a cubic close packed (CPP) lattice defining a interplanar distance y=x configured to allow passage of lithium ions through the interplanar distance and prevent passage of manganese through the interplanar distance; and has ion exchange sites configured to reversibly ion-exchange a lithium ion.

A composition may include a crystalline phase including lithiated bayerite. The composition can have a Li/B Selectivity Factor of at least 4.2 and a Turbidity Factor of less than 1000 NTU. In an embodiment, the composition comprises a content of Li from 2 wt % to 5 wt %, a content of Cl from 10 wt % to 26 wt %, a content of Al from 15 wt % to 30 wt % of the composition, or a combination thereof. A product can include the composition of embodiments herein and be configured to extract lithium from a solution.

A composition may include a crystalline phase including lithiated bayerite. The composition can have a Li/B Selectivity Factor of at least 4.2 and a Turbidity Factor of less than 1000 NTU. In an embodiment, the composition comprises a content of Li from 2 wt % to 5 wt %, a content of Cl from 10 wt % to 26 wt %, a content of Al from 15 wt % to 30 wt % of the composition, or a combination thereof. A product can include the composition of embodiments herein and be configured to extract lithium from a solution.

Provided is a method for producing a lithium-containing solution that allows suppressing production cost for lithium production by increasing a lithium content rate in a solution after an eluting step, and suppressing amount of a solution used in a process after the eluting step. The method for producing a lithium-containing solution includes an adsorption step, an eluting step of bringing post-adsorption lithium manganese oxide into contact with an acid-containing solution to obtain an eluted solution, and a manganese oxidation step performed in this order. The eluted solution is separated into a high concentration lithium-eluted solution and a low concentration lithium-eluted solution. The acid-containing solution includes a solution prepared by adding acid to the low concentration lithium-eluted solution. With this aspect, since only the low concentration lithium-eluted solution is added to the acid-containing solution, a hydrogen ion concentration in the acid-containing solution can be increased by adding just a small amount of acid, which consequently allows suppressing amount of the acid-containing solution and allows suppressing amount of the eluted solution used in the manganese oxidation step.

Provided is a method for producing a lithium-containing solution that allows suppressing production cost for lithium production by increasing a lithium content rate in a solution after an eluting step, and suppressing amount of a solution used in a process after the eluting step. The method for producing a lithium-containing solution includes an adsorption step, an eluting step of bringing post-adsorption lithium manganese oxide into contact with an acid-containing solution to obtain an eluted solution, and a manganese oxidation step performed in this order. The eluted solution is separated into a high concentration lithium-eluted solution and a low concentration lithium-eluted solution. The acid-containing solution includes a solution prepared by adding acid to the low concentration lithium-eluted solution. With this aspect, since only the low concentration lithium-eluted solution is added to the acid-containing solution, a hydrogen ion concentration in the acid-containing solution can be increased by adding just a small amount of acid, which consequently allows suppressing amount of the acid-containing solution and allows suppressing amount of the eluted solution used in the manganese oxidation step.