Lithium extraction method involving water splitting and lithium extraction apparatus used therein

Continuous Lithium Extraction Using Potential-Driven Water Splitting and Transmembrane Hydrostatic Pressure

This technology is an electrochemical process that extracts lithium by utilizing the potential difference between a lithium-ion-containing solution (seawater or brine) and an acidic solution. Hydrogen ions generated from the water-splitting reaction maintain electrical neutrality between cells, enabling continuous extraction.

Existing lithium extraction technologies have faced challenges with resource accessibility and low extraction efficiency. Furthermore, they have been limited by electrical imbalances between cells during lithium-ion migration, which prevents continuous operation and reduces economic viability.

This technology features an anode cell containing a lithium source and a cathode cell containing an acidic solution, separated by a membrane with 0.2–0.5 nm ion channels. By applying a voltage of 1.2–2V, lithium extraction and water splitting occur simultaneously. The acidic solution level is set 0.1–10 cm lower to apply transmembrane hydrostatic pressure, enhancing energy efficiency and sustaining extraction. It can be applied to seawater and brine-based lithium recovery plants and geothermal lithium extraction facilities, allowing for the production of hydrogen as a byproduct while repeatedly concentrating lithium salt solutions for battery materials.

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Key Features:

• An anode cell containing an anode and a lithium-ion-containing solution such as seawater or brine
• A cathode cell containing a cathode and an acidic solution comprising at least one of hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, or phosphoric acid
• A lithium extraction membrane interposed between the anode and cathode cells, featuring negatively charged ion channels with a size of 0.2 to 0.5 nm
• A step of maintaining the acidic solution level 0.1 to 10 cm lower than the lithium-ion-containing solution and applying a voltage of 1.2 to 2V to induce lithium migration

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development of high-efficiency multi-wavelength micro-LED arrays through 2D nano-micro crystal polarization control.

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