An improved method of lithium recovery from borax dilute solution is provided. In this method, boron in the borax dilute solution is removed from the medium as borax decahydrate and while this removal process is carried out, liquid-liquid extraction with organic sedimentary chemicals or ion exchange resins are not used.

The lithium extraction method includes providing lithium phosphate containing impurities of an alkaline earth metal; dissolving the lithium phosphate and the impurities in an acid; and preparing a lithium-containing solution by adding an additive to a solution prepared by dissolving the lithium phosphate and the impurities in the acid. The additive is a substance capable of simultaneously precipitating phosphate anions and the impurities, and the lithium-containing solution prepared through addition of the additive is basic.

The lithium extraction method includes providing lithium phosphate containing impurities of an alkaline earth metal; dissolving the lithium phosphate and the impurities in an acid; and preparing a lithium-containing solution by adding an additive to a solution prepared by dissolving the lithium phosphate and the impurities in the acid. The additive is a substance capable of simultaneously precipitating phosphate anions and the impurities, and the lithium-containing solution prepared through addition of the additive is basic.

Described herein are methods of recovering target ions from salt deposits. The methods include dissolving a target ion from a salt deposit to form a target solution and extracting the target ion from the target solution using a selective extraction process to yield a concentrate of the target ion which can be converted to a product.

Described herein are methods of recovering target ions from salt deposits. The methods include dissolving a target ion from a salt deposit to form a target solution and extracting the target ion from the target solution using a selective extraction process to yield a concentrate of the target ion which can be converted to a product.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

Methods and systems for producing lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are described. One or more embodiments involve reacting potassium hydroxide with lithium chloride or lithium nitrate to create a reciprocal salt system, and precipitation to form lithium hydroxide and potassium chloride crystals, potassium nitrate crystals, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, lithium chloride feedstock, nitrate feedstock, or mixture thereof, is obtained by reacting lithium sulfate with calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, or combination thereof. Additional embodiments include producing lithium carbonate, including, but not limited to, by reacting lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide.

Methods and systems for producing lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are described. One or more embodiments involve reacting potassium hydroxide with lithium chloride or lithium nitrate to create a reciprocal salt system, and precipitation to form lithium hydroxide and potassium chloride crystals, potassium nitrate crystals, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, lithium chloride feedstock, nitrate feedstock, or mixture thereof, is obtained by reacting lithium sulfate with calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, or combination thereof. Additional embodiments include producing lithium carbonate, including, but not limited to, by reacting lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide.

A method including capturing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from air (e.g., atmosphere) in an absorber in which the air contacts a base (e.g., a hydroxide, such as potassium hydroxide KOH and/or sodium hydroxide (NaOH)) to produce a carbonate (e.g., potassium carbonate (K.sub.2CO.sub.3) and/or sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3)); precipitating one or more (e.g., carbonate) salt from an aqueous solution comprising salt (a brine) to provide an aqueous solution comprising a chloride (e.g., potassium chloride (KCl) and/or sodium chloride (NaCl)); using electrochemical regeneration to convert the chloride to electrochemically regenerated product comprising the base (e.g., KOH and/or NaOH); and recycling at least a portion of the electrochemically regenerated product comprising the base to the capturing of the CO.sub.2 from the air. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.