US 11,697,861 B2
Processes for preparing lithium carbonate
Guy Bourassa, Québec (CA); Gary Pearse, Ottawa (CA); Stephen Charles Mackie, Peterborough (CA); Mykolas Gladkovas, Toronto (CA); Peter Symons, Williamsville, NY (US); J. David Genders, Elma, NY (US); Jean-François Magnan, Neuville (CA); and Geneviève Clayton, Pierrefonds (CA)
Assigned to NEMASKA LITHIUM INC., Montréal (CA)
Filed by NEMASKA LITHIUM INC., Québec (CA)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/185,973.
Application 16/185,973 is a continuation of application No. 15/031,746, granted, now 10,144,990, previously published as PCT/CA2014/000768, filed on Oct. 23, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/894,655, filed on Oct. 23, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2019/0345582 A1, Nov. 14, 2019
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C22B 26/12 (2006.01); C01D 7/07 (2006.01); B01D 61/42 (2006.01); B01D 61/44 (2006.01); C25B 1/14 (2006.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 9/70 (2021.01); C22B 3/44 (2006.01); C22B 4/02 (2006.01); C25B 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC C22B 26/12 (2013.01) [B01D 61/422 (2013.01); B01D 61/445 (2013.01); C01D 7/07 (2013.01); C22B 3/44 (2013.01); C22B 4/02 (2013.01); C25B 1/14 (2013.01); C25B 1/16 (2013.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 9/70 (2021.01); B01D 2311/2684 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0283 (2013.01); Y02E 60/36 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for preparing lithium carbonate, said process comprising:
submitting an aqueous composition comprising lithium sulphate to an electrolysis under conditions suitable for converting at least a portion of said lithium sulphate into lithium hydroxide, wherein during said electrolysis, said aqueous composition comprising lithium sulphate is at least substantially maintained at a pH having a value of about 1 to about 4; and
converting said lithium hydroxide into lithium carbonate by reacting said lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide;
wherein said electrolysis is a monopolar membrane electrolysis process,
wherein said process is carried out in a three-compartment electrolysis cell comprising a central compartment, a cathodic compartment, and an anodic compartment, the cathodic compartment being separated from the central compartment by a cation exchange membrane, and the anodic compartment being separated from the central compartment by an anion exchange membrane, and
wherein said process is carried out_by introducing said aqueous composition comprising said lithium sulphate into the central compartment, an aqueous composition comprising lithium hydroxide into the cathodic compartment, and an aqueous composition comprising NH3 into the anodic compartment.