Enhancing lithium extraction from low grade salt lake brines using high powder loading aluminum-based adsorbent granules

Ensuring adsorbent granules with high homogeneity and powder loading are essential prerequisites for an efficient industrial adsorption. This study introduced novel aluminum-based lithium adsorbent granules to extract lithium from low grade salt lake brines, combining the antisolvent extrusion granulation strategy and high mixing power preparation. The comparative study revealed that these granules exhibited a vibration density of 850.00 g/L and a powder loading of 86 %, significantly higher than the conventional adsorbent granules. Besides, the superior hydrophilicity of these granules facilitated lithium adsorption kinetics, enabling them faster to reach equilibrium with the volumetric adsorption capacity of 4710.12 mg/L. Notably, during column experiments performed with Qarhan salt lake old brines, these granules demonstrated a remarkable adsorption performance with the volumetric adsorption capacity of 2791.00 mg/L after a 360 min feed period, underscoring their substantial promise in enhancing industrial lithium extraction efficiency. [Display omitted] •High homogeneity and powder loading lithium adsorbent granules were developed.•The lithium adsorption capacity could be enhanced up to 4710.13 mg/L from brines.•Adsorbent powder had a high distribution uniformity in the granules.