A method of stabilizing imino-functional silane involving adding thereto at least one Brnsted-Lowry base to inhibit, suppress or prevent the addition reactions of the imino-functional silane with itself to form a imino- and amino-functional silane and the subsequent deamination reactions to form conjugated carbon-carbon double bond-containing imino-functional silanes and stabilized imino-functional silanes containing the at least one Brnsted-Lowry base.

Methods are provided for processing a lithium-containing material (e.g., a mineral like spodumene) whereby a lithium sulfate solution derived from the material is reacted with a primary reagent (e.g., Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 or NaOH) to produce a mixed solution of primary lithium product (e.g., Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 or LiOH) and Na.sub.2SO.sub.4. In addition to primary lithium product, a separated Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 solution is produced and converted to a byproduct (e.g., CaSO.sub.4, NaNO.sub.3, NaOH, H.sub.2SO.sub.4) by reaction with a salt chemical (e.g., Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2) or alkali chemical (e.g., Ca(OH).sub.2), or by electrolysis or electrodialysis. Byproducts are re-used to reduce reagent inputs. Residual lithium in an output solution is reacted with a secondary reagent (e.g., CO.sub.2 from flue gas, or H.sub.3PO.sub.4) to produce secondary lithium products (e.g., Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 or Li.sub.3PO.sub.4), which may be re-used to reduce reagent inputs and increase lithium recovery.

Methods are provided for processing a lithium-containing material (e.g., a mineral like spodumene) whereby a lithium sulfate solution derived from the material is reacted with a primary reagent (e.g., Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 or NaOH) to produce a mixed solution of primary lithium product (e.g., Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 or LiOH) and Na.sub.2SO.sub.4. In addition to primary lithium product, a separated Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 solution is produced and converted to a byproduct (e.g., CaSO.sub.4, NaNO.sub.3, NaOH, H.sub.2SO.sub.4) by reaction with a salt chemical (e.g., Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2) or alkali chemical (e.g., Ca(OH).sub.2), or by electrolysis or electrodialysis. Byproducts are re-used to reduce reagent inputs. Residual lithium in an output solution is reacted with a secondary reagent (e.g., CO.sub.2 from flue gas, or H.sub.3PO.sub.4) to produce secondary lithium products (e.g., Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 or Li.sub.3PO.sub.4), which may be re-used to reduce reagent inputs and increase lithium recovery.

A method for cleaning a storage tank to which sodium metal is adherent, the method containing: filling, with an inert oil, the storage tank to which sodium metal is adherent; subsequently adding water, water vapor, or a humidified inert gas to the inert oil; providing a gas discharge line to the storage tank and measuring the hydrogen gas concentration in the gas discharge line; regulating the amount of the water, water vapor, or humidified inert gas to be added per hour in accordance with the level of the hydrogen gas concentration; regulating the temperature of the inert oil to 0-98 C.; and converting the sodium metal into caustic soda while changing the liquid surface level of the inert oil in parallel with addition of the water, water vapor, or humidified inert gas to the inert oil.

A method for cleaning a storage tank to which sodium metal is adherent, the method containing: filling, with an inert oil, the storage tank to which sodium metal is adherent; subsequently adding water, water vapor, or a humidified inert gas to the inert oil; providing a gas discharge line to the storage tank and measuring the hydrogen gas concentration in the gas discharge line; regulating the amount of the water, water vapor, or humidified inert gas to be added per hour in accordance with the level of the hydrogen gas concentration; regulating the temperature of the inert oil to 0-98 C.; and converting the sodium metal into caustic soda while changing the liquid surface level of the inert oil in parallel with addition of the water, water vapor, or humidified inert gas to the inert oil.

The electrochemical reactors disclosed herein provide novel oxidation and reduction chemistries and employ increased mass transport rates of materials to and from the surfaces of electrodes therein.

A process for producing lactic acid is provided. The process comprises (a) reacting a stream rich in saccharide with sodium hydroxide in the presence of water to produce a reaction mixture comprising sodium lactate; (b) reacting at least a portion of the sodium lactate with HCl to produce lactic acid and sodium chloride; (c) converting at least a portion of the sodium chloride to chlorine and sodium hydroxide; and (d) recycling at least a portion of the sodium hydroxide produced in step (c) to step (a). Also provided are processes for the production of alkyl lactate, oligomeric lactic acid, lactide, alkyl lactyllactate, poly-lactic acid, propylene glycol and acrylic acid.

A process for producing lactic acid is provided. The process comprises (a) reacting a stream rich in saccharide with sodium hydroxide in the presence of water to produce a reaction mixture comprising sodium lactate; (b) reacting at least a portion of the sodium lactate with HCl to produce lactic acid and sodium chloride; (c) converting at least a portion of the sodium chloride to chlorine and sodium hydroxide; and (d) recycling at least a portion of the sodium hydroxide produced in step (c) to step (a). Also provided are processes for the production of alkyl lactate, oligomeric lactic acid, lactide, alkyl lactyllactate, poly-lactic acid, propylene glycol and acrylic acid.

Systems and methods for treatment of an effluent stream are disclosed. In an aspect, a system can comprise an input configured to receive a brine solution, a purification component in communication with the input and configured to receive the brine solution therefrom, the purification component comprising activated carbon, wherein the brine solution is caused to pass through the activated carbon to produce a purified solution, and an output in communication with the purification component to receive the purified solution therefrom.

Systems and methods for treatment of an effluent stream are disclosed. In an aspect, a system can comprise an input configured to receive a brine solution, a purification component in communication with the input and configured to receive the brine solution therefrom, the purification component comprising activated carbon, wherein the brine solution is caused to pass through the activated carbon to produce a purified solution, and an output in communication with the purification component to receive the purified solution therefrom.