Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines
Continental brines, with total dissolved solids ranging from 170–350 g l ^−1 , are the most abundant lithium resources, although lithium is one of the minor brine components, at concentrations around 1%. Amongst several requirements, for an efficient lithium recovery, it is imperative to improve the...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Sustainability Science and Technology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2977-3504/adc45e |
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| author | María L Vera Cecilia N Pereyra César H Díaz Nieto Victoria Flexer |
| author_facet | María L Vera Cecilia N Pereyra César H Díaz Nieto Victoria Flexer |
| author_sort | María L Vera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Continental brines, with total dissolved solids ranging from 170–350 g l ^−1 , are the most abundant lithium resources, although lithium is one of the minor brine components, at concentrations around 1%. Amongst several requirements, for an efficient lithium recovery, it is imperative to improve the Li ^+ to Na ^+ concentration ratio. Here we report a membrane electrolysis process for Na ^+ abatement from brines avoiding solid incrustations inside the reactor and minimizing lithium losses. Sodium is precipitated by CO _2 absorption and conversion to bicarbonate anions under basic conditions. Variables such as CO _2 flow rate and applied current densities were modified under different experimental designs. Three different arrangements were tested, with the best results found for an uncoupled CO _2 conversion and the recovery of the effluent from solid washing. Following this strategy, a reduction in the Na ^+ content of approximately 70% was achieved with a decrease of more than 3-fold in the Na ^+ /Li ^+ ratio of concentrations. Lithium recoveries of up to 66.6% in the catholyte were obtained with a mass balance close to 100% for both lithium and sodium. The proposed methodology has the potential to capture about 146.4 g of CO _2 per liter of electrolyzed brine, permanently storing CO _2 as mineral carbonates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc0a2df4f881424088022490c064145f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2977-3504 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | Sustainability Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc0a2df4f881424088022490c064145f2025-08-20T03:06:57ZengIOP PublishingSustainability Science and Technology2977-35042025-01-012202400110.1088/2977-3504/adc45eCrystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brinesMaría L Vera0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2407-2474Cecilia N Pereyra1César H Díaz Nieto2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5101-8476Victoria Flexer3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4385-8846Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy-CIDMEJu (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Jujuy) , Av. Martijena S/N, Palpalá 4612, ArgentinaCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy-CIDMEJu (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Jujuy) , Av. Martijena S/N, Palpalá 4612, ArgentinaCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy-CIDMEJu (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Jujuy) , Av. Martijena S/N, Palpalá 4612, ArgentinaCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy-CIDMEJu (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Jujuy) , Av. Martijena S/N, Palpalá 4612, ArgentinaContinental brines, with total dissolved solids ranging from 170–350 g l ^−1 , are the most abundant lithium resources, although lithium is one of the minor brine components, at concentrations around 1%. Amongst several requirements, for an efficient lithium recovery, it is imperative to improve the Li ^+ to Na ^+ concentration ratio. Here we report a membrane electrolysis process for Na ^+ abatement from brines avoiding solid incrustations inside the reactor and minimizing lithium losses. Sodium is precipitated by CO _2 absorption and conversion to bicarbonate anions under basic conditions. Variables such as CO _2 flow rate and applied current densities were modified under different experimental designs. Three different arrangements were tested, with the best results found for an uncoupled CO _2 conversion and the recovery of the effluent from solid washing. Following this strategy, a reduction in the Na ^+ content of approximately 70% was achieved with a decrease of more than 3-fold in the Na ^+ /Li ^+ ratio of concentrations. Lithium recoveries of up to 66.6% in the catholyte were obtained with a mass balance close to 100% for both lithium and sodium. The proposed methodology has the potential to capture about 146.4 g of CO _2 per liter of electrolyzed brine, permanently storing CO _2 as mineral carbonates.https://doi.org/10.1088/2977-3504/adc45edesalinationhydrometallurgysustainable miningcircular economy |
| spellingShingle | María L Vera Cecilia N Pereyra César H Díaz Nieto Victoria Flexer Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines Sustainability Science and Technology desalination hydrometallurgy sustainable mining circular economy |
| title | Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| title_full | Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| title_fullStr | Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| title_short | Crystallization of NaHCO3 for concomitant CO2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| title_sort | crystallization of nahco3 for concomitant co2 sequestration and enrichment of lithium cations concentration in high salinity brines |
| topic | desalination hydrometallurgy sustainable mining circular economy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2977-3504/adc45e |
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