Recovery of magnesium hydroxide from real bitterns

Recovery of Lithium Carbonate from Dilute Li-Rich Brine via Homogenous and Heterogeneous Precipitation

An extensive experimental campaign on Li recovery from relatively dilute LiCl solutions (i.e., Li+ similar to 4000 ppm) is presented to identify the best operating conditions for a Li2CO3 crystallization unit. Lithium is currently mainly produced via solar evaporation, purification, and precipitation from highly concentrated Li brines located in a few world areas. The process requires large surfaces and long times (18-24 months) to concentrate Li` up to 20,000 ppm. The present work investigates two separation routes to extract Li+ from synthetic solutions, mimicking those obtained from low-content Li+ sources through selective Li+ separation and further concentration steps: (i) addition of …

Evaluation of the Purity of Magnesium Hydroxide Recovered from Saltwork Bitterns

Magnesium has been listed among the 30 critical raw materials by the European Union. In recent years, many green and sustainable alternative Mg2+ sources have been sought to satisfy the EU’s demand and to avoid mineral ore consumption. In this context, saltwork bitterns, the by-products of solar sea salt production, have attracted much attention thanks to their high Mg2+ concentrations (up to 80 g/L) and low Ca2+ and bicarbonate contents (<0.5 g/L). Although investigations on Mg2+ extraction from bitterns in the form of Mg(OH)2(s) have already been performed, product purity has never been properly addressed. Mg(OH)2(s) is a chemical compound of great interest and extensive utility in num…