US 12,479,738 B2
Process and system for lithium production
Richard James Hunwick, Waterford (AU)
Assigned to ICSIP PTY LTD, Sydney (AU)
Filed by ICSIP PTY LTD, Sydney (AU)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/787,464.
Application 18/787,464 is a continuation of application No. 18/729,344, previously published as PCT/AU2022/051538, filed on Dec. 19, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2022900080 (AU), filed on Jan. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0409425 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. C01D 15/02 (2006.01); C01B 21/38 (2006.01); C01D 15/08 (2006.01); C01F 7/24 (2006.01); C22B 3/06 (2006.01); C22B 3/22 (2006.01); C22B 3/44 (2006.01); C22B 21/00 (2006.01); C22B 21/04 (2006.01); C22B 26/12 (2006.01)
CPC C01D 15/02 (2013.01) [C01B 21/38 (2013.01); C01D 15/08 (2013.01); C01F 7/24 (2013.01); C22B 3/065 (2013.01); C22B 3/22 (2013.01); C22B 3/44 (2013.01); C22B 21/0015 (2013.01); C22B 21/04 (2013.01); C22B 26/12 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for extracting lithium and aluminium from a lithium-containing aluminosilicate mineral, the process comprising the sequential steps of:
mixing the lithium-containing aluminosilicate mineral with nitric acid, thereby forming a mixture;
subjecting the mixture to a leaching process such that the lithium and the aluminium are leached into an aqueous phase, thereby forming a leach slurry comprising a leach liquor and a leached mineral, wherein the leach liquor comprises the lithium and the aluminium;
passing the leach slurry through a solid-liquid separation stage in which the leach liquor is separated from the leached mineral; and
subjecting the leach liquor to an aluminium precipitation stage in which the aluminium therein is precipitated, said aluminium precipitation stage comprises a thermal treatment comprising heating the leach liquor to cause aluminium to auto-precipitate therefrom.