Insights into lithium adsorption by coal-bearing strata kaolinite

Abstract

The sharp increase in the demand for lithium (Li) for high-energy-storage battery materials due to its high specific energy and low negative chemical potential render Li a geopolitically significant resource. It is urgent to develop a low-cost, efficient method to improve lithium extraction. Herein, Li ion (Li⁺) adsorption in coal-bearing strata kaolinite (CSK) was studied. The effects of pre-activation acid leaching (meta-kaolinite/H₂SO₄, MK-HS) and dimethyl sulfoxide intercalation (coal-bearing strata kaolinite/dimethyl sulfoxide, CSK-DMSO) on the Li⁺ adsorption capacity were studied under the same adsorption conditions. The results indicated that the adsorption was completed in 60 min under alkaline conditions (pH = 8.5), a high solution concentration (400 mg/L), and a low dosage (1 g/100 mL); and the comprehensive adsorption capacity is MK-HS > CSK-DMSO > CSK. Furthermore, the DMSO intercalation caused the interlayer spacing of the CSK to increase, which provided more space for Li⁺ to enter and increase the adsorption capacity. After thermal pre-activation and acid leaching, structural failure and lattice collapse resulted in the presence of more micropores in the MK-HS, which resulted in a 10-fold increase in its specific surface area and caused coordination bond changes (Al(VI) to Al(IV)) and leaching of aluminum (Al) from the lattice. It is proposed that these structural changes greatly improve the activity of CSK so that Li⁺ cannot only adsorb onto the surface and between the layers but can also enter the lattice defects, which results in the MK-HS having the best adsorption performance. Combined with the adsorption kinetics analysis, the adsorption methods of CSK and two modified materials include physical adsorption and chemical adsorption. In this study, the adsorption capacity of CSK and its modified products to Li were explored, providing a new option for the reuse of CSK and the extraction of Li.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

coal-bearing strata kaolinite / lithium / adsorption / modification

References

[1] Adebowale K O, Unuabonah I E, Olu-Owolabi B I (2006). The effect of some operating variables on the adsorption of lead and cadmium ions on kaolinite clay.J Hazard Mater, 134(1–3): 130–139

[2] Bhattacharyya K (2008). Kaolinite and montmorillonite as adsorbents for Fe(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) in aqueous medium. Appl Clay Sci, 41(1–2): 1–9

[3] Bhattacharyya K G, Gupta S S (2006). Kaolinite, montmorillonite, and their modified derivatives as adsorbents for removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution.Separ Purif Tech, 50(3): 388–397

[4] Bulut Y, Tez Z (2007). Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by sawdust adsorption.J Environ Sci (China), 19(2): 160–166

[5] Cao Z, Jia Y, Wang Q, Cheng H (2021). High-efficiency photo-Fenton Fe/g-C3N4/kaolinite catalyst for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation.Appl Clay Sci, 212: 106213

[6] Cheng H, Hou X, Liu Q, Li X, Frost R L (2015). New insights into the molecular structure of kaolinite–methanol intercalation complexes. Appl Clay Sci, 109–110: 55–63

[7] Cheng H, Huang Y, Zhu Z, Dong L, Zha J, Yu M (2021a). Enhanced PbCl2 adsorption capacity of modified kaolin in the furnace using a combined method of thermal pre-activation and acid impregnation.Chem Eng J, 414: 128672

[8] Cheng H, Liu Q, Cui X, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Frost R L (2012a). Mechanism of dehydroxylation temperature decrease and high temperature phase transition of coal-bearing strata kaolinite intercalated by potassium acetate.J Colloid Interface Sci, 376(1): 47–56

[9] Cheng H, Liu Q, Xu P, Hao R (2018). A comparison of molecular structure and de-intercalation kinetics of kaolinite/quaternary ammonium salt and alkylamine intercalation compounds.J Solid State Chem, 268: 36–44

[10] Cheng H, Liu Q, Yang J, Ma S, Frost R L (2012b). The thermal behavior of kaolinite intercalation complexes—a review.Thermochim Acta, 545: 1–13

[11] Cheng H, Liu Q, Zhang J, Yang J, Frost R L (2010). Delamination of kaolinite-potassium acetate intercalates by ball-milling.J Colloid Interface Sci, 348(2): 355–359

[12] Cheng H, Zhou Y, Feng Y, Geng W, Liu Q, Guo W, Jiang L (2017). Electrokinetic energy conversion in self-assembled 2D nanofluidic channels with Janus Nanobuilding Blocks.Adv Mater, 29(23): 1700177

[13] Cheng M, Yao C, Su Y, Liu J, Xu L, Hou S (2021b). Synthesis of membrane-type graphene oxide immobilized manganese dioxide adsorbent and its adsorption behavior for lithium ion.Chemosphere, 279: 130487

[14] Grosjean C, Miranda P H, Perrin M, Poggi P (2012). Assessment of world lithium resources and consequences of their geographic distribution on the expected development of the electric vehicle industry.Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 16(3): 1735–1744

[15] Gupta S S, Bhattacharyya K G (2005). Interaction of metal ions with clays: I. A case study with Pb(II). Appl Clay Sci, 30(3–4): 199–208

[16] Harvianto G R, Kim S H, Ju C S (2016). Solvent extraction and stripping of lithium ion from aqueous solution and its application to seawater.Rare Met, 35(12): 948–953

[17] He K, Zeng G, Chen A, Huang Z, Peng M, Huang T, Chen G (2019). Graphene hybridized polydopamine-kaolin composite as effective adsorbent for methylene blue removal. Compos, Part B Eng, 161: 141–149

[18] Jia X, Cheng H, Zhou Y, Zhang S, Liu Q (2019). Time-efficient preparation and mechanism of methoxy-grafted kaolinite via acid treatment and heating.Appl Clay Sci, 174: 170–177

[19] Jiang M, Jin X, Lu X Q, Chen Z (2010). Adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) onto natural kaolinite clay. Desalination, 252(1–3): 33–39

[20] Li J, Wang J (2019). Comprehensive utilization and environmental risks of coal gangue: a review.J Clean Prod, 239: 117946

[21] Li X, Deng Z, Li J (2017). Extraction of lithium from salt lake brine with kaolinite. Chemical Indus Eng Progress, 36(6): 2057–2063 (in Chinese)

[22] Liu L, Wang D, Liu X, Li J, Dai H, Yan W (2017). The main types, distribution features and present situation of exploration and development for domestic and foreign lithium mine. Geo China, 44(002): 263–278 (in Chinese)

[23] Luo Q, Dong M, Nie G, Liu Z, Wu Z, Li J (2021). Extraction of lithium from salt lake brines by granulated adsorbents.Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp, 628: 127256

[24] Makó É, Kovács A, Katona R, Kristóf T (2016). Characterization of kaolinite-cetyltrimethylammonium chloride intercalation complex synthesized through eco-friend kaolinite-urea pre-intercalation complex.Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp, 508: 265–273

[25] Paranthaman M P, Li L, Luo J, Hoke T, Ucar H, Moyer B A, Harrison S (2017). Recovery of Lithium from geothermal brine with Lithium-Aluminum layered double hydroxide chloride sorbents.Environ Sci Technol, 51(22): 13481–13486

[26] Peng H, Cui C, Cai C, Li S and Zhang X (2014). Research on influence of calcination temperature on metakaolin reactivity and its determination. Bull Chinese Ceramic Soc, 33(8): 2078–2084+2094 (in Chinese)

[27] Razmjou A, Asadnia M, Hosseini E, Habibnejad Korayem A, Chen V (2019). Design principles of ion selective nanostructured membranes for the extraction of lithium ions.Nat Commun, 10(1): 5793

[28] Sen Gupta S, Bhattacharyya K G (2008). Immobilization of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions on kaolinite and montmorillonite surfaces from aqueous medium.J Environ Manage, 87(1): 46–58

[29] Sun Y, Wang Q, Wang Y H, Yun R P, Xiang X (2021). Recent advances in magnesium/lithium separation and lithium extraction technologies from salt lake brine.Separ Purif Tech, 256: 117807

[30] Suraj G, Iyer C, Lalithambika M (1998). Adsorption of cadmium and copper by modified kaolinites.Appl Clay Sci, 13(4): 293–306

[31] Swain B (2016). Separation and purification of lithium by solvent extraction and supported liquid membrane, analysis of their mechanism: a review.J Chem Technol Biotechnol, 91(10): 2549–2562

[32] Tao S, Bi-wan X, Hui-sheng S (2008). The evolution of coal gangue (CG)–calcium hydroxide (CH)–gypsum–H₂O system.Mater Struct, 41(7): 1307–1314

[33] Uddin M K (2017). A review on the adsorption of heavy metals by clay minerals, with special focus on the past decade.Chem Eng J, 308: 438–462

[34] Wang D, Liu Q, Hou D, Zhang S, Guo P, Cheng H (2017). Improved method for preparation of methoxy-modified kaolinite.J Braz Chem Soc, 29(1): 33–37

[35] Wang M Y, Wang X W, Jiang C J, Tao C F (2014). Solvent extraction of molybdenum from acidic leach solution of Ni–Mo ore.Rare Met, 33(1): 107–110

[36] Wang Y, Cheng H, Hu Q, Liu L, Jia L, Gao S, Wang Y (2022). Pore structure heterogeneity of Wufeng-Longmaxi shale, Sichuan Basin, China: evidence from gas physisorption and multifractal geometries.J Petrol Sci Eng, 208: 109313

[37] Wang Y, Liu L, Cheng H (2021b). Gas adsorption characterization of pore structure of organic-rich shale: insights into contribution of organic matter to shale pore network.Nat Resour Res, 30(3): 2377–2395

[38] Wimpenny J, Colla C A, Yu P, Yin Q Z, Rustad J R, Casey W H (2015). Lithium isotope fractionation during uptake by gibbsite.Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 168: 133–150

[39] Xing H, Liu H, Zhang X, Deng H, Hu H, Yao H J F (2019). Enhanced sodium adsorption capacity of kaolinite using a combined method of thermal pre-activation and intercalation-exfoliation: alleviating the problems of slagging and fouling during the combustion of Zhundong coal.Fuel, 239: 312–319

[40] Xu P, Hong J, Xu Z, Xia H, Ni Q Q (2021). Novel aminated graphene quantum dots (GQDs-NH2)-engineered nanofiltration membrane with high Mg²⁺/Li⁺ separation efficiency.Separ Purif Tech, 258: 118042

[41] Xu X, Chen Y, Wan P, Gasem K, Wang K, He T, Adidharma H, Fan M (2016). Extraction of lithium with functionalized lithium ion-sieves.Prog Mater Sci, 84: 276–313

[42] Zhang X, Saldi G D, Schott J, Bouchez J, Kuessner M, Montouillout V, Henehan M, Gaillardet J (2021). Experimental constraints on Li isotope fractionation during the interaction between kaolinite and seawater.Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 292: 333–347

[43] Zhao Y, Cao Z, Zuh A A, Jia Y, Wang Q, Cheng H (2022). Synthesis of bismuth oxyiodide/kaolinite composite with enhanced photocatalytic activity.J Phys Chem Solids, 161: 110424

[44] Zhao Y, Wu M, Shen P, Uytterhoeven C, Mamrol N, Shen J, Gao C, Van der Bruggen B (2021). Composite anti-scaling membrane made of interpenetrating networks of nanofibers for selective separation of lithium.J Membr Sci, 618: 118668

[45] Zhou Y, Cheng H, Wei C, Zhang Y (2021). Effect of acid activation on structural evolution and surface charge of different derived kaolinites.Appl Clay Sci, 203: 105997

[46] Zhou Y, LaChance A M, Smith A T, Cheng H, Liu Q, Sun L (2019). Strategic design of clay-based multifunctional materials: from natural minerals to nanostructured membranes.Adv Funct Mater, 29(16): 1807611

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42172043), the Science and Technology Major Projects of Shanxi Province of China (No. 20181101003), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 300102299306), and Scientific Innovation Practive Project of Postgraduates of Chang’an University (No. 300103722045). The authors thank LetPub for its linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2022 Higher Education Press 2022