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 energy efficient and durable thermal swing type carbon dioxide recovery and concentration device can be made smaller and use low-temperature heat waste of 100 C. or less. A honeycomb rotor carries adsorption particles having a sorption capacity for carbon dioxide. The rotor is rotated in a sealed casing divided into at least an sorption zone and a desorption zone and is brought into contact with material gas that contains carbon dioxide in a state wherein the honeycombs in the sorption zone are moist so as to adsorb the carbon dioxide while carrying out evaporative cooling of water. Then, the honeycombs that have adsorbed the carbon dioxide are moved to the desorption zone and brought into contact with low pressure vapor so as to desorb high concentration carbon dioxide. Thus, it is possible to continuously recover carbon dioxide at a high recovery rate and high concentration.

An energy efficient and durable thermal swing type carbon dioxide recovery and concentration device can be made smaller and use low-temperature heat waste of 100 C. or less. A honeycomb rotor carries adsorption particles having a sorption capacity for carbon dioxide. The rotor is rotated in a sealed casing divided into at least an sorption zone and a desorption zone and is brought into contact with material gas that contains carbon dioxide in a state wherein the honeycombs in the sorption zone are moist so as to adsorb the carbon dioxide while carrying out evaporative cooling of water. Then, the honeycombs that have adsorbed the carbon dioxide are moved to the desorption zone and brought into contact with low pressure vapor so as to desorb high concentration carbon dioxide. Thus, it is possible to continuously recover carbon dioxide at a high recovery rate and high concentration.

An energy efficient and durable thermal swing type carbon dioxide recovery and concentration device can be made smaller and use low-temperature heat waste of 100 C. or less. A honeycomb rotor carries adsorption particles having a sorption capacity for carbon dioxide. The rotor is rotated in a sealed casing divided into at least an sorption zone and a desorption zone and is brought into contact with material gas that contains carbon dioxide in a state wherein the honeycombs in the sorption zone are moist so as to adsorb the carbon dioxide while carrying out evaporative cooling of water. Then, the honeycombs that have adsorbed the carbon dioxide are moved to the desorption zone and brought into contact with low pressure vapor so as to desorb high concentration carbon dioxide. Thus, it is possible to continuously recover carbon dioxide at a high recovery rate and high concentration.

An energy efficient and durable thermal swing type carbon dioxide recovery and concentration device can be made smaller and use low-temperature heat waste of 100 C. or less. A honeycomb rotor carries adsorption particles having a sorption capacity for carbon dioxide. The rotor is rotated in a sealed casing divided into at least an sorption zone and a desorption zone and is brought into contact with material gas that contains carbon dioxide in a state wherein the honeycombs in the sorption zone are moist so as to adsorb the carbon dioxide while carrying out evaporative cooling of water. Then, the honeycombs that have adsorbed the carbon dioxide are moved to the desorption zone and brought into contact with low pressure vapor so as to desorb high concentration carbon dioxide. Thus, it is possible to continuously recover carbon dioxide at a high recovery rate and high concentration.

A novel apparatus for an ion exchange system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first column for housing a first fluidized bed through which particles are flowed countercurrently to an ion-containing fluid to yield ion-loaded particles, a second column through which the ion-loaded particles are flowed countercurrently to an eluent fluid to yield regenerated particles, and a transport section which transfers the regenerated particles for re-introduction into the first column to repeat the ion exchange cycle in a continuous manner. A continuous method of ion exchange is also provided.

A novel apparatus for an ion exchange system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first column for housing a first fluidized bed through which particles are flowed countercurrently to an ion-containing fluid to yield ion-loaded particles, a second column through which the ion-loaded particles are flowed countercurrently to an eluent fluid to yield regenerated particles, and a transport section which transfers the regenerated particles for re-introduction into the first column to repeat the ion exchange cycle in a continuous manner. A continuous method of ion exchange is also provided.

Methods and apparatus for removing contaminants from liquid using a continuously circulating stream of purifying media are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes mixing a regenerated purifying media with a contaminated liquid containing diverse contaminants; co-currently transporting the purifying media and the contaminated liquid in a mixed state; removing, using the purifying media, while co-currently transporting the purifying media and the contaminated liquid, contaminants from the contaminated liquid so as to produce a mixture of a decontaminated liquid and a contaminated purifying media; and separating contaminated purifying media from the decontaminated liquid. In addition, the contaminated purifying media is contacted in counter current fashion with a regenerant solution so as to produce a regenerated purifying media and the regenerated purifying media is returned to the mixing step, whereby the continuously circulating purifying media selectively removes contaminants from the liquid.