DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RECOVERY OR EXTRACTION OF LITHIUM

摘要

A method for recovering and extracting lithium from a feed liquid (110) that may have a mixture of lithium and non-lithium salts present in the feed liquid. Salts of varying solubility are precipitated (120) out of the feed liquid (110) using water evaporation (140) or other techniques. Pure lithium hydroxide (190) is obtained using electrolysis or electro-dialysis processes (180) in combination with a lithium ion selective inorganic membrane such as LiSICON. The negative effect of sodium and potassium on the lithium ion selective inorganic membrane is reduced by reversing the polarity of the current placed across the membrane.