A process for recovery of lithium ions from a lithium-bearing brine includes contacting the lithium-bearing brine with a lithium ion sieve (where that LIS includes an oxide of titanium or niobium) in a first stirred reactor to form a lithium ion complex with the lithium ion sieve, and decomplexing the lithium ion from the lithium ion sieve in a second stirred reactor to form the lithium ion sieve and an acidic lithium salt eluate.

The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions and kits useful for the enhanced pH gradient cation exchange chromatography of a variety of analytes. In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to chromatographic elution buffer solutions that comprise a first buffer salt, a second buffer salt, a third buffer salt, and fourth buffer salt. The first buffer salt may be, for example, a diprotic acid buffer salt, the second buffer salt may be, for example, a divalent buffer salt with two amine groups, the third buffer salt may be, for example, a monovalent buffer salt comprising a single amine group, and the fourth buffer salt may be, for example, a zwitterionic buffer salt. Moreover, the buffer solution has a pH ranging from 3 to 11.

The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions and kits useful for the enhanced pH gradient cation exchange chromatography of a variety of analytes. In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to chromatographic elution buffer solutions that comprise a first buffer salt, a second buffer salt, a third buffer salt, and fourth buffer salt. The first buffer salt may be, for example, a diprotic acid buffer salt, the second buffer salt may be, for example, a divalent buffer salt with two amine groups, the third buffer salt may be, for example, a monovalent buffer salt comprising a single amine group, and the fourth buffer salt may be, for example, a zwitterionic buffer salt. Moreover, the buffer solution has a pH ranging from 3 to 11.

A water treatment system, such as a water softening system, having a water treatment tank with at least one distributor plate mounted inside to support filter media and/or ion exchange resin. The water treatment system is designed to treat hard water with a packed ion-exchange filter media and has a distributor plate design for facilitating the ion-exchange within a water softener resin bed, as well as facilitating the regeneration of the resin bed. The distributor plate presents cavities to the topside for entrapping filter media, and the cavities have narrow slits located at the base for allowing fluid to pass. A method for assembling the water treatment tank and supporting inserted distributor plate is shown. The distributor plate rest on and is supported by a domed-shaped structure that can be placed in the bottom portion of the water treatment vessel.

The invention relates to a system and method of use for concentrating a solution that is eluted from an ion exchange process (elution solution) during an ion exchange regeneration using the osmotic pressure of the salt saturator. This method recovers solvent from the elution solution that could be used in a future ion exchange regeneration process. The concentration of the elution solution may include the precipitation and removal of solids from the elution solution.

The present disclosure describes a method of recovering uranium including a continuous ion exchange (CIX) process including a single cycle or a dual cycle CIX process and at least a gradient elution or resin crowding process. The present disclosure also describes an apparatus including a single cycle or dual cycle CIX system and a gradient elution and/or resin crowding system.

Provided herein are processes for recovering lithium ions from a brine source. The process can comprises increasing the pH of a brine source comprising lithium ions to at least about 5.5; contacting the pH-elevated brine source with a bed of protonated ion exchange media to produce a lithiated ion exchange media and a lithium-depleted brine stream; contacting the lithiated ion exchange media with an acidic aqueous wash liquid; and contacting the washed lithiated ion exchange media with an elution liquid comprising an acid. Also provided herein is a process for increasing the pH of brine comprising obtaining brine from a brine source comprising lithium ions; adding the brine to a continuously stirred tank reactor without preprocessing the brine to remove solid matter; adding a strong base to the continuously stirred tank reactor; contacting the brine with the base. Further provided herein are processes for creating a lithiated ion exchange media, which can comprise contacting a pH-elevated brine source with a bed of protonated ion exchange media; and producing a lithiated ion exchange media and a spent brine, wherein the bed of protonated ion exchange media comprises a metal oxide absorbent and a polymeric binder.

Provided herein are processes for recovering lithium ions from a brine source. The process can comprises increasing the pH of a brine source comprising lithium ions to at least about 5.5; contacting the pH-elevated brine source with a bed of protonated ion exchange media to produce a lithiated ion exchange media and a lithium-depleted brine stream; contacting the lithiated ion exchange media with an acidic aqueous wash liquid; and contacting the washed lithiated ion exchange media with an elution liquid comprising an acid. Also provided herein is a process for increasing the pH of brine comprising obtaining brine from a brine source comprising lithium ions; adding the brine to a continuously stirred tank reactor without preprocessing the brine to remove solid matter; adding a strong base to the continuously stirred tank reactor; contacting the brine with the base. Further provided herein are processes for creating a lithiated ion exchange media, which can comprise contacting a pH-elevated brine source with a bed of protonated ion exchange media; and producing a lithiated ion exchange media and a spent brine, wherein the bed of protonated ion exchange media comprises a metal oxide absorbent and a polymeric binder.

A system and method configured to restore ion exchange kinetic properties and purify resin is described. Degraded ion exchange kinetic properties of anion resin will eventually result in impurity slippage through resin charges. This system and method employs an acid catalyst in combination with sulfite cleaning solution to remove organic material and to protonate iron oxides for deconstruction and removal from anion resins. The cleaning solution, when applied via a cleaning vessel utilizing an eductor(s)/plenum and wedge-wire screen draw chamber, while controlling all phases of cleaning by electronic monitoring, yields complete restoration of ion exchange kinetics on usable resin. As such, the system and method provides a safe, effective, and vastly improved method for restoring anion resin kinetics and improving regeneration quality, for improved resin performance and minimizing resin replacement costs.

A system and method configured to restore ion exchange kinetic properties and purify resin is described. Degraded ion exchange kinetic properties of anion resin will eventually result in impurity slippage through resin charges. This system and method employs an acid catalyst in combination with sulfite cleaning solution to remove organic material and to protonate iron oxides for deconstruction and removal from anion resins. The cleaning solution, when applied via a cleaning vessel utilizing an eductor(s)/plenum and wedge-wire screen draw chamber, while controlling all phases of cleaning by electronic monitoring, yields complete restoration of ion exchange kinetics on usable resin. As such, the system and method provides a safe, effective, and vastly improved method for restoring anion resin kinetics and improving regeneration quality, for improved resin performance and minimizing resin replacement costs.