	US 12,234,529 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 U.S. Borax Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Appl. No. 18/255,143
Filed by U.S. Borax Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 1, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/061406 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 31, 2023, PCT Pub. No. WO2022/119921, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/US2020/062855 (WO), filed on Dec. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102130 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C22B 26/12 (2006.01); C22B 1/06 (2006.01); C22B 1/24 (2006.01); C22B 1/26 (2006.01); C22B 3/02 (2006.01); C22B 3/04 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01)

CPC C22B 26/12 (2013.01) [C22B 1/06 (2013.01); C22B 1/2406 (2013.01); C22B 3/04 (2013.01); C22B 7/006 (2013.01); C22B 1/26 (2013.01); C22B 3/02 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A method of extracting lithium from a lithium-bearing material including:

mixing the lithium-bearing material having a moisture content of at least 20 wt %, (i) gypsum, a sulfur-containing material, and a calcium-containing material and forming a feed mixture;

(ii) optionally granulating the feed mixture to form a granulated mixture;

(iii) drying the feed or granulated mixture to form a dried mixture having a moisture content of less than 20 wt %;

(iv) roasting the dried mixture and forming a roasted mixture including a water-soluble lithium compound; and

(v) 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.