US 11,702,755 B2
Li recovery processes and onsite chemical production for Li recovery processes
Saad Dara, Vancouver (CA); and Beniamin Zahiri, Vancouver (CA)
Assigned to MANGROVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD., Vancouver (CA)
Filed by Mangrove Water Technologies LTD., Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/883,969.
Application 17/883,969 is a division of application No. 17/416,413, granted, now 11,519,085, previously published as PCT/IB2019/001346, filed on Dec. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/907,486, filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/784,324, filed on Dec. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0380917 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. C25B 11/031 (2021.01); C25B 9/23 (2021.01); C25B 11/032 (2021.01); C25B 11/052 (2021.01); C25B 9/21 (2021.01); B01D 61/46 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); C01D 15/02 (2006.01); C01D 15/04 (2006.01); C01D 15/08 (2006.01); C01F 5/24 (2006.01); C01F 11/18 (2006.01); C02F 1/461 (2023.01); C02F 1/469 (2023.01); C25B 1/16 (2006.01); C25C 1/02 (2006.01); C25C 7/02 (2006.01); C25C 7/04 (2006.01); C25B 11/048 (2021.01); C25B 11/046 (2021.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 11/053 (2021.01); C25B 13/00 (2006.01); C02F 101/10 (2006.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01); C02F 103/10 (2006.01)
CPC C25B 9/23 (2021.01) [B01D 61/46 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); C01D 15/02 (2013.01); C01D 15/04 (2013.01); C01D 15/08 (2013.01); C01F 5/24 (2013.01); C01F 11/181 (2013.01); C02F 1/4693 (2013.01); C02F 1/46109 (2013.01); C25B 1/16 (2013.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 9/21 (2021.01); C25B 11/032 (2021.01); C25B 11/046 (2021.01); C25B 11/048 (2021.01); C25B 11/052 (2021.01); C25B 11/053 (2021.01); C25B 13/00 (2013.01); C25C 1/02 (2013.01); C25C 7/02 (2013.01); C25C 7/04 (2013.01); B01D 2313/345 (2013.01); B01D 2325/10 (2013.01); B01D 2325/36 (2013.01); B01D 2325/38 (2013.01); B01D 2325/42 (2013.01); C02F 2001/46142 (2013.01); C02F 2001/46166 (2013.01); C02F 2101/10 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2103/10 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for purifying or concentrating LiOH using a membrane electrolysis cell, the steps of the process comprising the steps of:
receiving, in a membrane electrolysis cell, a feed solution comprising LiOH and a gas comprising O2; and
delivering, from the membrane electrolysis cell, a product solution comprising a purified LiOH solution and/or a concentrated LiOH solution,
wherein the membrane electrolysis cell comprises:
an inlet through which the feed solution comprising LiOH is introduced into an interior of the membrane electrolysis cell;
an anode positioned to extend within the interior of the membrane electrolysis cell and positioned in an anode compartment;
a cathode comprising a gas diffusion electrode positioned to extend within the interior of the membrane electrolysis cell and positioned in a cathode compartment, the gas diffusion electrode including a diffusion layer configured to diffuse the gas comprising O2 and a hydrophilic catalyst layer disposed on a surface of the diffusion layer, the hydrophilic catalyst layer having a hydrophilicity greater than that of the diffusion layer and the hydrophilic catalyst layer being configured to transport negative ions;
a gas inlet through which the gas comprising O2 is introduced into contact with the gas diffusion electrode;
a first ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode compartment and the hydrophilic catalyst layer of the gas diffusion electrode, the first ion exchange membrane being configured to exchange ions received from the anode to an opposed surface of the first ion exchange membrane;
a second ion exchange membrane, the second ion exchange membrane being disposed on the hydrophilic catalyst layer of the gas diffusion electrode and being configured to exchange ions received from the hydrophilic catalyst layer of the gas diffusion electrode to an opposed surface of the second ion exchange membrane;
wherein the first and second ion exchange membranes define a base build up compartment interposed between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment; and
at least one outlet through which the product solution comprising a purified LiOH solution and/or a concentrated LiOH solution is removed from an interior of the membrane electrolysis cell.