US 11,873,540 B2
Lithium extraction process and apparatus
Amit Patwardhan, Wilmington, DE (US); Sandip Shinde, Wilmington, DE (US); Allen Wattenbarger, Wilmington, DE (US); and Daniel Suasnabar, Wilmington, DE (US)
Assigned to US Borax Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by US Borax Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/539,775.
Application 17/539,775 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/062855, filed on Dec. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170134 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. C22B 26/12 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01); C22B 3/04 (2006.01); C22B 1/06 (2006.01); C22B 3/02 (2006.01); C22B 1/26 (2006.01)
CPC C22B 26/12 (2013.01) [C22B 1/06 (2013.01); C22B 3/04 (2013.01); C22B 7/006 (2013.01); C22B 1/26 (2013.01); C22B 3/02 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including:
(i) mixing the lithium-bearing material, gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture having a moisture content ranging from 20 to 60 wt %;
(ii) drying the feed mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %;
(iii) roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and
(iv) leaching lithium from the water-soluble lithium compound and forming a lithium-containing leachate by mixing an aqueous solution and the water-soluble lithium compound.