A process for electrowinning a metal can include the steps of: a) conveying an anolyte material and a metal chemical feedstock material along an anolyte flow path within an anolyte chamber; b) conveying catholyte material along a catholyte flow path within a catholyte chamber that has a cathode; c) applying an activation electric potential between the anode and a cathode that is sufficient to electrolyze and liberate metal ions from the metal chemical feedstock material in the anolyte chamber, thereby causing a flux of metal ions to migrate through a porous membrane from the anolyte chamber to the catholyte chamber and a metal product to be formed in the catholyte chamber; and while applying the activation electric potential, extracting a feedstock-depleted anolyte material from the anolyte chamber; and extracting an outlet material comprising the catholyte material and the metal product from the catholyte chamber via a catholyte outlet.

A process for electrowinning a metal can include the steps of: a) conveying an anolyte material and a metal chemical feedstock material along an anolyte flow path within an anolyte chamber; b) conveying catholyte material along a catholyte flow path within a catholyte chamber that has a cathode; c) applying an activation electric potential between the anode and a cathode that is sufficient to electrolyze and liberate metal ions from the metal chemical feedstock material in the anolyte chamber, thereby causing a flux of metal ions to migrate through a porous membrane from the anolyte chamber to the catholyte chamber and a metal product to be formed in the catholyte chamber; and while applying the activation electric potential, extracting a feedstock-depleted anolyte material from the anolyte chamber; and extracting an outlet material comprising the catholyte material and the metal product from the catholyte chamber via a catholyte outlet.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of lithium carbonate from lithium chloride containing brines. The method can include a silica removal step, capturing lithium chloride, recovering lithium chloride, supplying lithium chloride to an electrochemical cell and producing lithium hydroxide, contacting the lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce lithium carbonate.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The cerium oxide nanoparticles may be fabricated by a method that may include injecting metal ions into cerium oxide particles and then removing (e.g., desorbing) at least some of the injected metal ions from the cerium oxide particles.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The cerium oxide nanoparticles may be fabricated by a method that may include injecting metal ions into cerium oxide particles and then removing (e.g., desorbing) at least some of the injected metal ions from the cerium oxide particles.

A molten salt, membrane electrolyzer apparatus may include an anolyte compartment containing a molten salt anolyte comprising primarily chloride salts and a lithium carbonate (Li.sub.2CO.sub.3) feed material. A first and second electrode assemblies each having respective anodes, cathode housings proximate the first anode within the anolyte compartment and in fluid contact with the molten salt anolyte and having a primary transfer portion comprising a porous membrane and cathodes positioned within the first catholyte compartment so that the primary transfer portion is disposed between respective anode and cathode. A power supply can be configured to apply an electric potential between the first anode and the first cathode that is sufficient to initiate electrolysis of lithium carbonate and is greater than the electric potential required to initiate LiCl electrolysis.

A molten salt, membrane electrolyzer apparatus may include an anolyte compartment containing a molten salt anolyte comprising primarily chloride salts and a lithium carbonate (Li.sub.2CO.sub.3) feed material. A first and second electrode assemblies each having respective anodes, cathode housings proximate the first anode within the anolyte compartment and in fluid contact with the molten salt anolyte and having a primary transfer portion comprising a porous membrane and cathodes positioned within the first catholyte compartment so that the primary transfer portion is disposed between respective anode and cathode. A power supply can be configured to apply an electric potential between the first anode and the first cathode that is sufficient to initiate electrolysis of lithium carbonate and is greater than the electric potential required to initiate LiCl electrolysis.

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.