(43d) Modeling Direct Lithium Extraction from Brine Using Adsorption Process

Lithium is playing a pivotal role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by powering advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, electronics, and renewable energy storage systems. Adsorption and ion-exchange processes have been successfully commercialized to ensure efficient and cost-effective recovery of lithium from brine solutions at significantly reduced time durations. However, these processes heavily rely on costly trial-and-error experimentation to optimize the adsorption-desorption cycles due to the lack of rigorous process modeling approaches. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive approach to model the adsorption equilibrium isotherms at a range of solution concentrations and pH values. Subsequently, to facilitate the adsorption-desorption cycle, adsorption kinetics and column breakthrough are modeled using Aspen Chromatography® for a range of process conditions. The study further compares the modeling results against the adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and column breakthrough experimental data and existing empirical models at a range of concentrations, pH values, and temperatures for various adsorbents and ion-exchange resins.