Synthesis of a nanostructure ion sieve with improved lithium adsorption capacity

The low lithium adsorption capacity of different ion sieves was found to be an important limiting parameter for their use in industrial extraction. The maximum exchange capacity of 6.6 mmol/g obtained till now is not high enough for their economical industrial application. Therefore, an increase in lithium adsorption capacity by studying the effects of three parameters, involving manganese salt compound, lithium salt compound and Li/Mn mole ratio on synthesised ion sieves was investigated. Moreover, the ion sieves capability on the lithium uptake from lithium-enriched solution was examined by the Taguchi experimental design method by L9 orthogonal array. Continuously, optimum conditions were predicted and confirmed by the experimental results. Based on the results, all mentioned parameters have significant effect on lithium uptake capacity, but lithium salt compound is the most effective factor. Finally, an appropriate ion sieve with lithium adsorption capacity >8.5 mmol/g was synthesised by applying the optimised conditions.