A method for LiOHH.sub.2O production from lithium-bearing multicomponent hydromineral raw materials includes filtering lithium-bearing brine contaminated with suspended particles with regeneration of filters and processing of used regenerate, and obtaining pregnant lithium-bearing brine, isolation of lithium chloride from the brine in the form of a primary concentrate in sorption-desorption modules, and nanofiltration of the primary lithium concentrate from magnesium, calcium and sulfate ions. By means of reverse osmosis, electrodialysis concentration and ion-exchange purification from impurities followed by thermal concentration, the primary lithium concentrate is converted into a pregnant lithium chloride concentrate which is converted into a LiOH solution by membrane electrolysis. The LiOH solution is boiled down, resulting in LiOH.H.sub.2O crystallization.

A method for LiOHH.sub.2O production from lithium-bearing multicomponent hydromineral raw materials includes filtering lithium-bearing brine contaminated with suspended particles with regeneration of filters and processing of used regenerate, and obtaining pregnant lithium-bearing brine, isolation of lithium chloride from the brine in the form of a primary concentrate in sorption-desorption modules, and nanofiltration of the primary lithium concentrate from magnesium, calcium and sulfate ions. By means of reverse osmosis, electrodialysis concentration and ion-exchange purification from impurities followed by thermal concentration, the primary lithium concentrate is converted into a pregnant lithium chloride concentrate which is converted into a LiOH solution by membrane electrolysis. The LiOH solution is boiled down, resulting in LiOH.H.sub.2O crystallization.

A method of producing lithium phosphate from a lithium source includes the step of (a) concentrating the lithium to produce a lithium concentrate, with an ion exchange sorbent, and (b) reacting the lithium concentrate with phosphate anions to produce lithium phosphate. The lithium phosphate may then be converted to lithium hydroxide or lithium 5 carbonate by reaction with calcium hydroxide or by electrolysis.

A method of producing lithium phosphate from a lithium source includes the step of (a) concentrating the lithium to produce a lithium concentrate, with an ion exchange sorbent, and (b) reacting the lithium concentrate with phosphate anions to produce lithium phosphate. The lithium phosphate may then be converted to lithium hydroxide or lithium 5 carbonate by reaction with calcium hydroxide or by electrolysis.

The present disclosure relates to a method for extracting lithium from a lithium-containing material. For example, the method can comprise leaching a roasted lithium-containing material under conditions suitable to obtain an aqueous composition comprising a lithium compound such as lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate. The aqueous composition comprising lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate can optionally be used, for example, in a method for preparing lithium hydroxide comprising an electromembrane process. The roasted lithium-containing material can be prepared, for example by a method which uses an aqueous composition comprising optionally lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate which can be obtained from a method for preparing lithium hydroxide comprising an electromembrane process such as a two-compartment monopolar or bipolar electrolysis process.

The present disclosure relates to a method for extracting lithium from a lithium-containing material. For example, the method can comprise leaching a roasted lithium-containing material under conditions suitable to obtain an aqueous composition comprising a lithium compound such as lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate. The aqueous composition comprising lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate can optionally be used, for example, in a method for preparing lithium hydroxide comprising an electromembrane process. The roasted lithium-containing material can be prepared, for example by a method which uses an aqueous composition comprising optionally lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate which can be obtained from a method for preparing lithium hydroxide comprising an electromembrane process such as a two-compartment monopolar or bipolar electrolysis process.

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.

A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.

A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.