Direct electrochemical extraction of lithium from ores

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025109517-A1
Application number	US-202318861704-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2023
Priority date	May 17, 2022
Publication date	Apr 3, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for leaching lithium via an electrochemical apparatus including a multi-functional current collector, an electrode, an electrolyte, and a lithium-bearing material, wherein the lithium-bearing material is dispersed or suspended in the electrolyte or the lithium-bearing material is coated onto the current collector. The method involves applying voltage to the current collector to leach lithium from the lithium-bearing material. The method can involve adding promoter additive into the electrolyte to boost lithium extraction within the electrochemical apparatus.

First claim

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17 . A method for leaching lithium via an electrochemical apparatus including: a multi-functional current collector; an electrode; an electrolyte; and a lithium-bearing material, wherein the lithium-bearing material is dispersed or suspended in the electrolyte or the lithium-bearing material is coated onto the current collector, the method comprising:
applying voltage to the current collector to leach lithium from the lithium-bearing material; and ex-situ adding an oxidant promoter to the electrolyte to increase the amount or rate of electron conduction and/or to lower the reaction potential of the electrochemical apparatus.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
ex-situ adding the oxidant promoter improves energy efficiency of the electrochemical apparatus.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the oxidant promoter includes O 2 , O 3 , H 2 O 2 , HNO 3 , F 2 , Cl 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , ClO − , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , S 2 O 8 2− , SO 5 2− , KMnO 4 , N 2 O, NO 2 , and/or SO 2 .

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
in-situ forming of an oxidant promoter with assistance from a catalyst and an oxygen gas to increase the amount or rate of electron conduction and/or to lower the reaction potential of the electrochemical apparatus.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein:
in-situ forming of the oxidant promoter improves energy efficiency of the electrochemical apparatus.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein:
the oxidant promoter includes O 2 , O 3 , H 2 O 2 , HNO 3 , F 2 , Cl 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , ClO − , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , S 2 O 8 2− , SO 5 2− , KMnO 4 , N 2 O, NO 2 , and/or SO 2 .

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25 . A multi-functional current collector, comprising:
a carbon-based or metal-based framework; graphene oxide aerogel foam; and a catalyst, wherein, the graphene oxide aerogel foam includes graphene oxide, graphene, boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and/or a two-dimensional material.

26 . The multi-functional current collector of claim 25 , further comprising:
a polymer binder.

27 . The multi-functional current collector of claim 26 , wherein:
the polymer binder includes Nafion, polyvinylidene fluoride, styrene-butadiene rubber/sodium carboxyl methylcellulose, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyacrylic acid, sodium alginate, and/or polysaccharide.

28 . The multi-functional current collector of claim 25 , further comprising:
a polymer binder including Nafion, polyvinylidene fluoride, styrene-butadiene rubber/sodium carboxyl methylcellulose, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyacrylic acid, sodium alginate, and/or polysaccharide; wherein the graphene oxide aerogel foam includes graphene oxide, graphene, boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and/or a two-dimensional material; wherein:
the weight ratio of the graphene oxide or the two-dimensional material to polymer binder ranges from 100:1 to 10:1; and/or
the weight ratio of the graphene oxide or the two-dimensional material to carbon-based framework ranges from 1:100 to 1:20.

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Assignees

• Penn State Res Found

Inventors

• Shi Feifei
• Zhang Hanrui

Classifications

• Y02P10/20

  Recycling · CPC title

• C22B3/045 Primary

  Leaching using electrochemical processes · CPC title

• C25C7/02

  Electrodes (consumable anodes for the refining the metals C25C1/00 - C25C5/00); Connections thereof · CPC title

• C22B26/12

  Obtaining lithium · CPC title

• C25C3/02 Primary

  of alkali or alkaline earth metals · CPC title