Processing of Hydro-Mineral Lithium Raw Material of Kazakhstan Using Inorganic Sorbents

Abstract

The article presents the results of studies on recovery of lithium from reservoir brines using both commercial and synthesized aluminum hydroxide and hydrated manganese oxide as sorbents. The research results showed that, when using commercial aluminum hydroxide and synthesized hydrated manganese oxide as sorbents, lithium recovery from brine was 21.8 and 20.1%, respectively. Studies were conducted on lithium chemisorption on freshly precipitated aluminum hydroxide, which was obtained by adding aluminum chloride solution and tri-calcium hydro-aluminate to the brine. Chemisorption of lithium was carried out under the following conditions: T = 50 °C; AlCl3 solution concentration - 120 g/dm3; molar ratio Li/Al = 7; pH equal = 8.0-8.8; holding time with stirring 1 h. The degree of lithium extraction from brine was 71%; lithium capacity of freshly precipitated Al (OH)3 was 5.9 mg/g. During calcareous leaching of lithium-aluminum precipitate, lithium was extracted into a solution by 74.7%.