DataVXACS Energy LettersPaper
journal article·2024-09-13

Microporous Polymer Sorbents for Direct Lithium Extraction

Michael A. Baird, Ryan S. Kingsbury, Yunfei Wang, Albert Gang, Chenhui Zhu, Michael L. Whittaker, Brett A. Helms

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 9· Issue 9
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Source abstract

Abstract

Lithium extraction from brines is essential to onshoring battery supply chains. Yet, cation-exchange sorbents often exhibit poor selectivity and require pH swings, contributing to increased capital and operating expenditures. Here, we develop lithium extraction sorbents that obviate pH swings by reversibly binding Li + within aqueous brine-compatible polymers of intrinsic microporosity (AquaPIMs) bearing metal-complexing aza-crown-ether pendants. We conduct selectivity screens with synthetic and natural brines, the latter obtained from oilfield and salt lake sites across North America. Sorption selectivities for Li + /Na +, Li + /K +, Li + /Mg 2+, and Li + /Ca 2+ change with respect to sorbent and brine composition due to pH, mixed-ion effects, and ion–polymer interactions; this behavior was pronounced for natural brines. Using an AquaPIM sorbent embodying aza-12-crown-4 pendants, we demonstrated a lithium extraction process for Smackover Formation brine (Arkansas, USA), enriching Li by a factor of 3.7 when desorbing it with pure water. Our work underscores the importance of designing sorbents based on brine composition and Li + /M n + separation priorities.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Energy storagePolymers

OpenAlex topics: Extraction and Separation Processes · Chemical Synthesis and Characterization · Radioactive element chemistry and processing

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States

School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Center for Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States

Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Energy Geosciences Division and Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Funding

Basic Energy Sciences · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory · Membrion, Inc. · Sepion Technologies · Max Power Mining Corp. · Cyklos Materials

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