Transfer of Early-Stage Lithium Recovery from Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching to Upscale Challenges
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Laboratory-Scale Leaching
2.2. Upscale Leaching
3. Results
3.1. Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching Efficiency—Lithium
3.2. Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching Efficiency—Fluorine
3.3. pH Evaluation
3.4. Optimization and Upscale Water Leaching
- No upper limit was set for F leaching efficiency, and the target was set for 0% leaching efficiency;
- The lower limit set for Li leaching efficiency was 42.2%, which was the low value resulting from the laboratory-scale trials, and the target was set for 100%;
- The proportional weights of Li and F leaching efficiency in the optimization were set as equal, meaning that Li or F have the same importance for the result.
- The upper limit set for F leaching efficiency was 50%, and the target was the lowest achieved leaching efficiency of 10.6%;
- The lower limit set for Li leaching efficiency was 60%, and the target was the highest achieved leaching efficiency of 81.6%;
- The proportional weight of Li leaching efficiency in the optimization was higher than F leaching efficiency, meaning that it is more important to maximize Li leaching efficiency than to minimize F leaching efficiency.
4. Discussion
- The geometric similarity states that the ratio between the dimensions of the reactors should be proportional on both scales, which was not fully respected in this work, since, for example, the laboratory-scale reactor contained no baffles on the walls, while the upscale reactor contained four.
- The impeller, which is another construction parameter that influences the solution agitation and enhances leaching efficiencies in general, in this work was also different in size and type, not achieving the proportional similarity. It was also hypothesized that although the stirring rate of 150 rpm provided great turbulence, it was not enough, which caused the settlement of the particles on the bottom, in the cupped region of the reactor, consequently hindering the dissolution. A higher stirring speed was tested, but spilling was observed since the liquid surface was only 10 cm away from the boarder of the reactor.
- In Sample B, which has particle sizes < 1000 μm, the settlement velocity is probably higher, what contributes to the concentration of particles on the bottom of the reactor. However, lower particle sizes are unfeasible in industry application due to mechanical crushing being a costly process.
- Another aspect considered to contribute to the lower Li leaching efficiency in the upscale was the dwell time of 1 h, which might not be enough when a much higher amount of BM was used, and combined with the mentioned settlement, it affects the kinetics.
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Parameter/Levels | Low | High |
---|---|---|
Black mass batch | Sample A—63 µm | Sample B—1000 µm |
CO2 gas flow (L/min) | 0 | 6 |
Temperature (°C) | 20 | 80 |
S/L ratio (g/L) | 10 | 70 |
Li | F | Ni | Co | Mn | Fe | Al | Cu | P | C | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | ||||||||||
Sample A | 2.64 | 2.44 | 5.20 | 4.83 | 5.77 | 2.66 | 3.06 | 3.30 | 0.69 | 47.0 |
Sample B | 4.17 | 2.96 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 9.20 | 1.19 | 4.57 | 3.38 | 0.73 | 25.8 |
pH | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Time (min) | No CO2 Gas S/L Ratio 10 g/L | No CO2 Gas S/L Ratio 70 g/L | CO2 Gas 6 L/min S/L Ratio 10 g/L | CO2 Gas 6 L/min S/L Ratio 70 g/L |
0 (initial) | 6.91 | 6.72 | 4.39 | 4.60 |
60 | 10.12 | 10.60 | 6.49 | 7.30 |
Solution | Sample | Temperature (°C) | CO2 Flow (L/min) | S/L Ratio (g/L) | F Fit (%) | Li Fit (%) | Composite Desirability a |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scenario 1 | B | 80 | 6 | 30 | 49.87 | 73.75 | 0.027 |
Scenario 2 | B | 80 | 6 | 41.51 | 40.08 | 69.26 | 0.529 |
Li Leaching Efficiency (%) | F Leaching Efficiency (%) | |
---|---|---|
Laboratory Scale | 70.52 ± 2.11 | 34.54 ± 4.47 |
Upscale | 60.95 ± 3.00 | 52.93 ± 3.19 |
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Munchen, D.D.; Milicevic Neumann, K.; Öner, I.E.; Friedrich, B. Transfer of Early-Stage Lithium Recovery from Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching to Upscale Challenges. Metals 2024, 14, 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14010067
Munchen DD, Milicevic Neumann K, Öner IE, Friedrich B. Transfer of Early-Stage Lithium Recovery from Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching to Upscale Challenges. Metals. 2024; 14(1):67. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14010067
Chicago/Turabian StyleMunchen, Daniel Dotto, Ksenija Milicevic Neumann, Ilayda Elif Öner, and Bernd Friedrich. 2024. "Transfer of Early-Stage Lithium Recovery from Laboratory-Scale Water Leaching to Upscale Challenges" Metals 14, no. 1: 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14010067