ConcentraciĆ³n de litio presente en salmueras procedente del Salar de Atacama mediante intercambio iĆ³nico
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Fecha
2018
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Idioma
es
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Universidad AndrƩs Bello
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Licencia CC
Licencia CC
Resumen
El alza por la demanda del carbonato de litio para la fabricaciĆ³n de baterĆas para artefactos electrĆ³nicos conlleva un gran desafĆo y oportunidad para el paĆs, ya que Chile cuenta con grandes reservas naturales, especĆficamente en las salmueras naturales del desierto de Atacama. En este contexto diversos centros de estudios privados y estatales han determinado como objetivo el optimizar el proceso productivo de obtenciĆ³n de litio a partir de salmueras naturales.
En este escenario, la presente investigaciĆ³n fue enfocada en obtener un proceso alternativo al proceso productivo actual de obtenciĆ³n de litio a partir de salmueras naturales, especĆficamente en reemplazar el proceso de evaporaciĆ³n fraccionada por el de intercambio iĆ³nico, empleando resinas intercambiadoras de iones para concentrar la salmuera de un 0,2% p/p a un 1% p/p de litio.
Para alcanzar dicho objetivo fueron propuestos dos procesos productivos independientes de intercambio iĆ³nico, en ambos es comparado el rendimiento de una resina especĆfica para el litio bajo las mismas condiciones operacionales, pero en uno de ellos fue empleada, previamente, una resina para eliminar impurezas de la salmuera, con la finalidad de distinguir quĆ© proceso propuesto presenta mayor eficiencia.
En base a las condiciones utilizadas, el objetivo no fue alcanzado, ya que ninguno de los procesos propuestos logrĆ³ obtener una soluciĆ³n concentrada al 1% p/p de litio, sino que fue obtenido una salmuera concentrada inferior al 0,2% p/p de este. Sin embargo, esta primera investigaciĆ³n permite visualizar la ruta a seguir para obtener resultados y cumplir con el objetivo propuesto, realizando mejoras al proceso mencionado en el presente documento.
The rise in demand for lithium carbonate for the manufacture of batteries for electronic devices entails a great challenge and opportunity for the country, which has large natural reserves, specifically in the natural brines of the Atacama Desert. In this context, several centers of private and state studies have been designated as the objective of the most useful process of obtaining lithium from natural brines. In this scenario, the present investigation was focused on obtaining an alternative process to the actual productive process of obtaining lithium from natural brines, specifically as a replacement for the fractional evaporation process by ion exchange, using ion exchange resins to concentrate the brine from a 0.2% w/w to 1% w/w of lithium. To achieve this goal, two independent ion exchange processes were proposed, in both is compared the performance of a specific resin for lithium under the same operational conditions, but in one of them a resin was previously used to remove impurities from the brine, in order to distinguish which proposed process presents greater efficiency. Based on the conditions used, the objective was not reached, because neither of the proposed processes achieved a concentrated solution at 1% w/w of lithium, instead, a concentrated brine of less than 0.2% w/w was obtained. However, this first investigation allows visualize the route to follow to obtain results and fulfill the proposed objective, making improvements to the process mentioned in the current document.
The rise in demand for lithium carbonate for the manufacture of batteries for electronic devices entails a great challenge and opportunity for the country, which has large natural reserves, specifically in the natural brines of the Atacama Desert. In this context, several centers of private and state studies have been designated as the objective of the most useful process of obtaining lithium from natural brines. In this scenario, the present investigation was focused on obtaining an alternative process to the actual productive process of obtaining lithium from natural brines, specifically as a replacement for the fractional evaporation process by ion exchange, using ion exchange resins to concentrate the brine from a 0.2% w/w to 1% w/w of lithium. To achieve this goal, two independent ion exchange processes were proposed, in both is compared the performance of a specific resin for lithium under the same operational conditions, but in one of them a resin was previously used to remove impurities from the brine, in order to distinguish which proposed process presents greater efficiency. Based on the conditions used, the objective was not reached, because neither of the proposed processes achieved a concentrated solution at 1% w/w of lithium, instead, a concentrated brine of less than 0.2% w/w was obtained. However, this first investigation allows visualize the route to follow to obtain results and fulfill the proposed objective, making improvements to the process mentioned in the current document.
Notas
Tesis (Ingeniero Civil en Metalurgia)
Palabras clave
Litio, Chile, Salar de Atacama, Intercambio de Iones