METHOD FOR PRODUCING LITHIUM BY ELECTROLYSIS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS CONTAINING LITHIUM IONS Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC C25C3/02 

FIELD: lithium production.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for producing lithium by electrolysis of aqueous solutions of salts containing lithium ions. An aqueous solution containing lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, lithium nitrate, lithium sulfate or their mixture is poured into two vessels at a concentration of lithium ions in the solution of at least 0.1 mg / l. Both vessels are connected to each other using a flexible or curved connecting tube and the liquid level in them is equalized. A liquid hydrocarbon is poured into the first vessel, at the volume which is four times less than the volume of the aqueous solution. In the first vessel, two perforated stainless steel electrodes are placed horizontally. One electrode is placed horizontally at the border between the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous solution. Another electrode, the same in size as the said first electrode, is placed in the said aqueous solution under the first electrode at a distance of 10-40 mm. Both electrodes, which are cathodes, are connected to the negative terminal of the DC voltage source, and a graphite anode is connected to the positive terminal of the DC voltage source, which is lowered into the second vessel, and the voltage between the cathodes and the anode is set in the range 3.5 -50.0 V for electrolysis of said aqueous solution. In the first vessel, lithium cations are restored at the cathodes. Lithium, due to its lower density compared to liquid hydrocarbon, floats upward into liquid hydrocarbon and is completely isolated from interaction with the said aqueous solution.

EFFECT: achieved is the production of lithium by electrolysis, in which the aqueous part contains dissolved lithium salts with possible dissolved salts of other elements.

3 cl, 1 dwg, 1 ex