TECHNO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF LITHIUM RECOVERY FROM OILFIELD BRINES USING 3D PRINTED SORBENTS

With the continuous technological advancement the global demand for selected chemical elements in both emerging and established solutions is rising. This is particularly evident in energy storage applications, such as lithium-ion batteries for increasingly popular electric vehicles. The growing need for lithium carbonate drives the search for innovative extraction methods, including recovery from brine through chemical processes. This approach not only aids in lithium recovery but also positively impacts the environment by repurposing "waste" from oil exploitation. The lithium recovery process from brine is complex with selective lithium separation as a critical stage. Within the CompLithium project 3D-printed sorbents have been developed, enabling a tenfold increase in lithium concentration in the concentrate compared to the initial brine. The system operates with at least two columns: one column sorbs lithium while the other one undergoes regeneration. Lithium is extracted from the acidic concentrate by precipitation using sodium carbonate. This technological sequence encompasses preliminary brine preparation, lithium capture, acidic concentrate production, and lithium carbonate precipitation. Under the CompLithium project the efficiency and selectivity of whole process were evaluated, the final product's purity was tested, and the consumption of auxiliary chemicals was estimated. A total of 12 sorbents with varying compositions and sintering temperatures were analyzed. In this paper the results (kinetic studies and adsorption isotherm assessments) for the best-performing sorbents are presented. The adsorption capacities of the sorbents were tested under static conditions. Results indicate that the process effectively recovers at least 80% of the initial lithium content.