Li+ adsorption/desorption properties of lithium ion-sieves in aqueous solution and recovery of lithium from borogypsum

This study presents the recovery of lithium from borogypsum by lithium ion-sieves known as selective adsorbents. In the study two types of ion-sieves were used. One was λ-MnO2 which was obtained by the treatment of LiMn2O4 with acid and the other was prepared via the acid treatment of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 which occurred by the substitution some of manganese with nickel. Besides the lithium adsorption and desorption capacities, manganese and nickel dissolution ratios from the spinel powders were also studied. Optimum adsorption and desorption conditions were determined in the LiOH and HCl solutions. XRD and SEM analyses showed that substitution of manganese with nickel and treatment of spinel powders with acid did not destroy the spinel structure and morphology. Because of the cell-contraction, nickel-substituted spinel did not show any satisfying Li+ extraction and adsorption properties.