Formation of Li Salts from Natural Brines during Isothermal Evaporation at 25℃

Li brines are the primary resources for Li salt industries. Evaporation is necessary to concentrate Li due to its low level of concentration in raw brines. The salt sequences during the evaporation of Li brines,especially the behavior of Li salts,represent key data for solar technologies. However,chemists cannot use any phase diagram to estimate Li salt sequences during evaporation at 25℃ . The thermodynamic model proposed by us in2003 represents the only tool for the prediction of equilibrium conditions during the evaporation of solutions containing Li~+,Na~+,K~+,Mg~(2+)/Cl~-,SO_4~(2-),and-H_2 O components at 25℃ . In this paper,the predicted salt sequences of 20 brines are reported. The results indicate that( 1) the first crystallized Li salt during evaporation of Li brine varies in brine composition;( 2) lithium sulfate is crystallized in many cases initially for brines of magnesium sulfate subtype,while Db4( Li_2 SO_4·K_2 SO_4) or Db3( 2 Li_2 SO_4·Na_2 SO_4·K_2 SO_4) appears first for sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfatesubtypes with lower Mg/Li composition,and the final eutectic point is H ~+ LiC ~+ Lc ~+ Ls ~+ Car;( 3) the final eutectic point is H ~+ LiC ~+ Lc ~+ Car for brines of chloride type; and( 4) Li content corresponding to the first crystallized Li salt is in the range of 0. 43%-1%. These findings enhance our knowledge of Li chemistry and provide insights into solar pond technology of the Li-brine process.

Formation of Li Salts from Natural Brines during Isothermal Evaporation at 25℃

Li brines are the primary resources for Li salt industries. Evaporation is necessary to concentrate Li due to its low level of concentration in raw brines. The salt sequences during the evaporation of Li brines,especially the behavior of Li salts,represent key data for solar technologies. However,chemists cannot use any phase diagram to estimate Li salt sequences during evaporation at 25℃ . The thermodynamic model proposed by us in2003 represents the only tool for the prediction of equilibrium conditions during the evaporation of solutions containing Li~+,Na~+,K~+,Mg~(2+)/Cl~-,SO_4~(2-),and-H_2 O components at 25℃ . In this paper,the predicted salt sequences of 20 brines are reported. The results indicate that( 1) the first crystallized Li salt during evaporation of Li brine varies in brine composition;( 2) lithium sulfate is crystallized in many cases initially for brines of magnesium sulfate subtype,while Db4( Li_2 SO_4·K_2 SO_4) or Db3( 2 Li_2 SO_4·Na_2 SO_4·K_2 SO_4) appears first for sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfatesubtypes with lower Mg/Li composition,and the final eutectic point is H ~+ LiC ~+ Lc ~+ Ls ~+ Car;( 3) the final eutectic point is H ~+ LiC ~+ Lc ~+ Car for brines of chloride type; and( 4) Li content corresponding to the first crystallized Li salt is in the range of 0. 43%-1%. These findings enhance our knowledge of Li chemistry and provide insights into solar pond technology of the Li-brine process.