Systems and methods use ion exchange to extract lithium from a lithium-containing feed solution such as a salar brine. Lithium ions are loaded into an ion exchange resin and then eluted while recharging the resin. Sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate may be used to recharge the resin but are not directly mixed with the lithium-containing feed solution. An eluate stream is produced containing lithium hydroxide or lithium bicarbonate. Lithium hydroxide can be precipitated as lithium hydroxide or in a hydrate form. Lithium bicarbonate may be converted to lithium carbonate. The system and method optionally includes processing an eluate stream to recover one or more compounds for re-use in regenerating the resin bed.

Systems and methods use ion exchange to extract lithium from a lithium-containing feed solution such as a salar brine. Lithium ions are loaded into an ion exchange resin and then eluted while recharging the resin. Sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate may be used to recharge the resin but are not directly mixed with the lithium-containing feed solution. An eluate stream is produced containing lithium hydroxide or lithium bicarbonate. Lithium hydroxide can be precipitated as lithium hydroxide or in a hydrate form. Lithium bicarbonate may be converted to lithium carbonate. The system and method optionally includes processing an eluate stream to recover one or more compounds for re-use in regenerating the resin bed.

An ion exchange device main body 3 includes: a tubular body 31 into which an ion exchange resin bag 5 accommodating the ion exchange resin is inserted through an opening and which has a liquid outlet 312 in which a liquid outlet port 314 for discharging an ion exchange target liquid to outside is formed; a lid 32 that is supported by the tubular body 31 and has a gas injection portion 324 in which a gas injection port 325 for injecting a to an inside 311 of the tubular body 31 is formed; a lead-out pipe 42 that is connected to the liquid outlet 312 and guides the ion exchange target liquid to the outside; and a check valve 44 that is provided in the lead-out pipe 42 and prevents the ion exchange target liquid from flowing backward from the outside to the inside.

An ion exchange device main body 3 includes: a tubular body 31 into which an ion exchange resin bag 5 accommodating the ion exchange resin is inserted through an opening and which has a liquid outlet 312 in which a liquid outlet port 314 for discharging an ion exchange target liquid to outside is formed; a lid 32 that is supported by the tubular body 31 and has a gas injection portion 324 in which a gas injection port 325 for injecting a to an inside 311 of the tubular body 31 is formed; a lead-out pipe 42 that is connected to the liquid outlet 312 and guides the ion exchange target liquid to the outside; and a check valve 44 that is provided in the lead-out pipe 42 and prevents the ion exchange target liquid from flowing backward from the outside to the inside.

In order to reduce the contamination of scandium oxide products, the present disclosure provides a process for removing at least one metal contaminant from a scandium (Sc) concentrate. The process is based on contacting the Sc concentrate with an ion exchange resin to obtain a purified Sc eluate or raffinate. The first ion exchange resin and the second ion exchange resin are strong acid cationic resins with sulfonic acid functional groups in a potassium or sodium form. The purified Sc eluate or raffinate can be used to make scandium oxide products having a reduced amount of metal ion contaminants.

In order to reduce the contamination of scandium oxide products, the present disclosure provides a process for removing at least one metal contaminant from a scandium (Sc) concentrate. The process is based on contacting the Sc concentrate with an ion exchange resin to obtain a purified Sc eluate or raffinate. The first ion exchange resin and the second ion exchange resin are strong acid cationic resins with sulfonic acid functional groups in a potassium or sodium form. The purified Sc eluate or raffinate can be used to make scandium oxide products having a reduced amount of metal ion contaminants.

The present invention relates to a system for reducing a content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a high fructose syrup, including an ion exchange positive column and an ion exchange negative column for performing cation and anion removals in sequence for an F42 high fructose syrup obtained by performing isomerization and first decolorization, a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange and temperature reduction for an F55 high fructose syrup obtained by performing concentration, chromatographic separation, blending and second decolorization in sequence for the F42 high fructose syrup subjected to ion exchange, a mixed bed column for performing purification for the heat-exchanged F55 high fructose syrup, and an evaporation tank for performing concentration for the F55 high fructose syrup subjected to mixed bed treatment. The present invention further provides a method of reducing a content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in a high fructose syrup. In the present invention, optimization is performed for ion exchange and operation modes and parameters of the mixed bed such that the HMF content in the high fructose syrup product is reduced in a case of ensuring the quality of the high fructose syrup product, thus improving the quality of the high fructose syrup product.

A purification method for separating and purifying an organic solvent from a liquid mixture of an organic solvent and water, the organic solvent having a boiling point of more than 100° C. at 1 atm, includes the steps of: passing the liquid mixture through a first ion exchange device; supplying the liquid mixture discharged from the first ion exchange device to a pervaporation device to selectively separate water component; supplying the organic solvent recovered from the concentration side of the pervaporation device to an evaporator to obtain a purified organic solvent; and passing, through the second ion exchange device, a portion of liquid containing the organic solvent and flowing at a first position subsequent to the first ion exchange device. The liquid discharged from the second ion exchange device is returned to a second position which is at a preceding stage of the pervaporation device.

A purification method for separating and purifying an organic solvent from a liquid mixture of an organic solvent and water, the organic solvent having a boiling point of more than 100° C. at 1 atm, includes the steps of: passing the liquid mixture through a first ion exchange device; supplying the liquid mixture discharged from the first ion exchange device to a pervaporation device to selectively separate water component; supplying the organic solvent recovered from the concentration side of the pervaporation device to an evaporator to obtain a purified organic solvent; and passing, through the second ion exchange device, a portion of liquid containing the organic solvent and flowing at a first position subsequent to the first ion exchange device. The liquid discharged from the second ion exchange device is returned to a second position which is at a preceding stage of the pervaporation device.

The invention relates to a method for purifying a target substance starting from a fluid to be treated which comprises at least one impurity. The method comprises treatment of a stream of the fluid to be treated using a chromatography step in a first separation unit, collection of a fraction enriched with the target substance in a first tank, and viral inactivation of the fraction enriched with the target substance. The viral inactivation comprises passing the fraction enriched with the target substance through a second separation unit, passing a viral inactivation solution through the second separation unit, mixing, and collecting the mixture in the second tank to obtain a fraction depleted of active virus. The method further comprises treatment of the fraction depleted of active virus using a chromatography step in the second separation unit and collection of a fraction more enriched with the target substance.