US 12,168,748 B2
Treated geothermal brine compositions with reduced concentration of silica, iron and lithium
Stephen Harrison, Benicia, CA (US); and John Burba, III, Parker, CO (US)
Assigned to Terralithium LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by TERRALITHIUM LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/900,113.
Application 17/900,113 is a continuation of application No. 17/061,106, filed on Oct. 1, 2020, granted, now 11,466,191.
Application 17/061,106 is a continuation of application No. 16/258,023, filed on Jan. 25, 2019, granted, now 10,829,676, issued on Nov. 10, 2020.
Application 16/258,023 is a continuation of application No. 14/190,032, filed on Feb. 25, 2014, granted, now 10,190,030, issued on Jan. 29, 2019.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/107,689, filed on Dec. 16, 2013, granted, now 9,012,357, issued on Apr. 21, 2015.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/062,781, filed on Oct. 24, 2013, abandoned.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/283,311, filed on Oct. 27, 2011, granted, now 8,901,032, issued on Dec. 2, 2014.
Application 14/107,689 is a continuation of application No. 12/972,728, filed on Dec. 20, 2010, granted, now 8,637,428, issued on Jan. 28, 2014.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/945,519, filed on Nov. 12, 2010, granted, now 8,753,594, issued on Jun. 17, 2014.
Application 14/062,781 is a continuation of application No. 12/822,580, filed on Jun. 24, 2010, granted, now 8,597,521, issued on Dec. 3, 2013.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/823,000, filed on Jun. 24, 2010, granted, now 9,051,827, issued on Jun. 9, 2015.
Application 14/190,032 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/766,589, filed on Apr. 23, 2010, granted, now 8,741,256, issued on Jun. 3, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/873,212, filed on Sep. 3, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/408,452, filed on Oct. 29, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/287,983, filed on Dec. 18, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/261,114, filed on Nov. 13, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/239,275, filed on Sep. 2, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/220,000, filed on Jun. 24, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/172,540, filed on Apr. 24, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0085171 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. C09K 5/10 (2006.01); B01J 20/08 (2006.01); C01B 33/26 (2006.01); C01D 3/04 (2006.01); C01D 15/00 (2006.01); C01F 7/46 (2006.01); C02F 1/26 (2023.01); C02F 1/28 (2023.01); C02F 1/42 (2023.01); C02F 1/52 (2023.01); C02F 1/56 (2023.01); C02F 1/66 (2023.01); C02F 1/74 (2023.01); C02F 9/00 (2023.01); C09K 5/04 (2006.01); C22B 3/14 (2006.01); C22B 13/00 (2006.01); C22B 19/00 (2006.01); C22B 26/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/25 (2006.01); C02F 5/00 (2023.01); C02F 101/10 (2006.01); C02F 101/20 (2006.01); C02F 103/06 (2006.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01); C02F 103/10 (2006.01)
CPC C09K 5/10 (2013.01) [B01J 20/08 (2013.01); C01B 33/26 (2013.01); C01D 3/04 (2013.01); C01D 15/00 (2013.01); C01F 7/46 (2013.01); C02F 9/00 (2013.01); C09K 5/048 (2013.01); C22B 3/14 (2013.01); C22B 13/00 (2013.01); C22B 19/00 (2013.01); C22B 26/00 (2013.01); E21B 43/25 (2013.01); C02F 1/26 (2013.01); C02F 1/281 (2013.01); C02F 1/42 (2013.01); C02F 2001/5218 (2013.01); C02F 1/5245 (2013.01); C02F 1/56 (2013.01); C02F 1/66 (2013.01); C02F 1/74 (2013.01); C02F 5/00 (2013.01); C02F 2101/10 (2013.01); C02F 2101/203 (2013.01); C02F 2103/06 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2103/10 (2013.01); C02F 2209/02 (2013.01); C02F 2209/06 (2013.01); Y02W 10/37 (2015.05)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for producing lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate from a brine solution, the method comprising the steps of,
providing a brine solution comprising lithium and silica;
supplying the brine solution to a silica management step to remove silica from the brine solution to produce a silica-lean lithium containing solution;
supplying the silica-lean lithium containing solution to a lithium capture step, the lithium capture step being operable to capture lithium from the silica-lean lithium containing solution, wherein the lithium capture step selectively isolates lithium from the silica-lean lithium containing solution;
wherein the lithium capture step includes the step of contacting the silica-lean lithium containing solution with an intercalate operable to capture the lithium from the silica-lean lithium containing solution;
recovering the lithium from the lithium capture step using wash water to produce a lithium-rich stream comprising at least one of calcium, magnesium, manganese or zinc, and
contacting the lithium-rich stream with a base and a carbonate such that a portion of the at least one of calcium, magnesium, manganese or zinc present in the lithium-rich stream is removed as a solid precipitate to produce a purified lithium-rich stream comprising lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate.