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5 EP 2 591 130 B1 6 FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the concentration of lith- ium relative to the reaction time when lithium phos- phate is precipitated from lithium. FIG. 7 is a graph depicting the concentration of lith- ium relative to the reaction time and temperature when lithium phosphate is precipitated from lithium. FIG. 8 is a graph depicting the concentration of lith- ium phosphate in the filtrate relative to the reaction time when lithium carbonate is precipitated from lith- ium. Mode for the Invention [0030] The features of one embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures as follows. [0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of economical and efficient extraction of lithium from a lithium bearing solution by adding a phosphorous supplying material to the solution to precipitate lithium phosphate instead of lithium car- bonate from the dissolved lithium is provided, wherein the lithium bearing solution is brine and the concentration of lithium in the brine is 0.1g/L or more. [0032] Due to its solubility being approximately 13g/L, a relatively large amount of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) may be dissolved in the water. It is difficult to extract lithium from a lithium bearing solution, such as brine, be- cause an extremely small concentration of lithium of 0.5g/L to 1.5g/L is dissolved. Even if lithium carbonate is produced by adding sodium carbonate to the lithium bearing solution, most of it redissolves. [0033] The solubility of lithium phosphate (Li3PO4), however, is approximately 0.39g/L, which is relatively lower than that of lithium carbonate. Accordingly, it is possible to extract even a small concentration of 0.5g/L or 1.5g/L of lithium dissolved in the lithium bearing solu- tion, such as brine, which can be precipitated and sepa- rated into lithium phosphate in a solid state by adding a phosphorous supplying material in the lithium bearing solution. [0034] In the present invention, the concentration of lithium in the lithium bearing solution is 0.1g/L or more. More specifically, the concentration may be 0.2g/L or more, or 0.5g/L or more. The concentration of 60g/L or more, however, may not be economical because a great amount of time is required for the high-enrichment of lith- ium. [0035] The phosphorous supplying material selected from the group consisting of phosphorous, phosphoric acid, phosphate, and a mixture thereof is added to the lithium bearing solution to produce lithium phosphate. In addition, in order for the lithium phosphate to be precip- itated in a solid state without being re-dissolved, the con- centration (i.e., the dissolved concentration in the lithium bearing solution) should be 0.39g/L or greater. [0036] In the case the phosphorous supplying material is a compound capable of altering the pH of the lithium bearing solution (e.g., phosphoric acid), hydroxide ions can be concurrently used to prevent the precipitated lith- ium phosphate from re-dissolving once the pH of the so- lution decreases. [0037] The phosphate may be, for example, but is not limited thereto, potassium phosphate, sodium phos- phate, and ammonium phosphate. Specifically, the am- monium may be (NR4)3PO4, wherein R is independently a hydrogen, a heavy hydrogen, a substituted or unsub- stituted C1-C10 alkyl group, but not limited thereto. [0038] More specifically, the phosphate may be, for ex- ample, but is not limited thereto, mono-potassium phos- phate, di-potassium phosphate, tri-potassium phos- phate, monosodium phosphate, di-sodium phosphate, tri-sodium phosphate, aluminum phosphate, zinc phos- phate, poly-ammonium phosphate, sodium-hexa-meta- phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, di-calcium phos- phate, and tri-calcium-phosphate. [0039] The phosphorous supplying material may be water-soluble. In the case the phosphorous supplying material is water-soluble, the reaction with lithium con- tained in the lithium bearing solution may easily occur. [0040] The precipitated lithium phosphate may be ex- tracted by filtering the lithium bearing solution. [0041] Further, the method of economical extraction of lithium from a lithium bearing solution by adding a phos- phorous supplying material to the solution to precipitate lithium phosphate from the dissolved lithium may be per- formed at room temperature. More specifically, the tem- perature may be more than 20°C, 30°C, 50°Cor 90°C. [0042] In the present invention, the term "room tem- perature"is not limited to a definite temperature, and it is construed to mean a temperature without the application of external energy. Accordingly, the room temperature may vary depending on time and place. [Step of Removing Impurities Precipitates] [0043] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a step of removing impurities in the brine, including magnesium, boron or calcium, by adding a hydroxyl ion in a lithium bearing solution (e.g., brine) followed by precipitating may be included. [0044] The hydroxyl ion may be, for example, but is not limited thereto, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydrox- ide, an ammonium hydroxide. Specifically, the ammoni- um may be NR4OH, wherein R is independently a hydro- gen, a heavy hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl group, but is not limited thereto. More spe- cifically, the hydroxide may be an anion of sodium hy- droxide. [0045] More specifically, the hydroxyl ion may be an anion of hydroxide salt produced as a byproduct during the extraction of lithium, because the cation of hydroxide salt has high solubility. [0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 4PDF Image | Patent Lithium European Patent Spec
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Product and Development Focus for Infinity Turbine
ORC Waste Heat Turbine and ORC System Build Plans: All turbine plans are $10,000 each. This allows you to build a system and then consider licensing for production after you have completed and tested a unit.Redox Flow Battery Technology: With the advent of the new USA tax credits for producing and selling batteries ($35/kW) we are focussing on a simple flow battery using shipping containers as the modular electrolyte storage units with tax credits up to $140,000 per system. Our main focus is on the salt battery. This battery can be used for both thermal and electrical storage applications. We call it the Cogeneration Battery or Cogen Battery. One project is converting salt (brine) based water conditioners to simultaneously produce power. In addition, there are many opportunities to extract Lithium from brine (salt lakes, groundwater, and producer water).Salt water or brine are huge sources for lithium. Most of the worlds lithium is acquired from a brine source. It's even in seawater in a low concentration. Brine is also a byproduct of huge powerplants, which can now use that as an electrolyte and a huge flow battery (which allows storage at the source).We welcome any business and equipment inquiries, as well as licensing our turbines for manufacturing.| CONTACT TEL: 608-238-6001 Email: greg@infinityturbine.com | RSS | AMP |