Recovery of lithium carbonate crystals from a high salinity solution using membrane crystallizer with concentration and temperature gradients – Republic of Korea

The F-SMDC integrates membrane distillation and cooling crystallization processes within a single reactor, utilizing concentration gradient (CG) and temperature gradient (TG) to enhance water recovery and resource crystallization.

We investigated the behaviors of Li₂CO₃ crystallization, CG, and TG in presence of sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄). Our results indicated that the low temperature-sensitive solubility of Li₂CO₃ is the current challenge for CG generation, as Li₂CO₃ crystallization tends to occur at the top of the reactor (at higher temperatures). Addition of Na₂SO₄ facilitated CG generation, improving the overall performance of the F-SMDC process for Li₂CO₃ crystallization at the bottom of the reactor.

However, issues such as Li₂CO₃ crystal deposition on the membrane surface, changes in the CG tendency, and flux stabilization timing were observed.

(Source)