Other

Novalith Technologies Pty Limited

Brian Haynes

James Andrew Banister

Anthony Matthew Johnston

Jason Mann

According to the present invention there is provided a method for the extraction of lithium from one or more lithium-containing ores such as spodumene, the inventive method comprising the steps of: milling said ore/s to a predetermined average particle size; optionally calcining the milled ore; further optionally performing a secondary milling step; providing an aqueous suspension of the one or more lithium-containing ores at a predetermined solids concentration; subjecting the one or more lithium-containing ores to an aqueous extraction medium defined by a predetermined partial pressure of CO, a predetermined extraction temperature, over a predetermined time; and obtaining technical grade lithium carbonate/lithium bicarbonate therefrom. Optional concentration and/or precipitation/purification steps may follow.

Lithium extraction method

The present invention is a multiple reaction set for the production of chemicals by equilibrium limited reactions utilizing plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers. The heat exchangers cool the reaction products to condense methanol within the reaction products for separation, and to warm incoming feed reactants prior to entrance of the reactants into a reactor utilized for methanol production. The various reactors, heat exchangers, and separators can be formed as separated zones within enclosed vessels, thereby eliminating the need for separately constructed reactors, heat exchangers, and separators. Multi-stream plate-type of extended surface heat exchangers can be utilized to allow efficient cooling and methanol separation. The multiple reaction set can also be used for the recovery of methanol from a waste or purge gas stream utilizing multiple reactors, multiple plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers and multiple separators as a substitute for or in conjunction with a conventional methanol synthesis loop.

Multiple reactor chemical production system

The present invention is a multiple reaction set for the production of chemicals by equilibrium limited reactions utilizing plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers. The heat exchangers effectively cool the reaction products in order to condense the methanol contained within the reaction products for separation, and also to warm incoming feed reactants prior to entrance of the reactants into a reactor utilized for the production of methanol. The various reactors, heat exchangers, and separators can be formed as separated zones within the enclosed vessels, thereby eliminating the need for separately constructed reactors, heat exchangers, and separators. Multi-stream plate-type of extended surface heat exchangers can be utilized to allow efficient cooling and methanol separation. The multiple reaction set can also be used for the recovery of methanol from a waste or purge gas stream utilizing multiple reactors, multiple plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers and multiple separators as a substitute for or in conjunction with a conventional methanol synthesis loop.

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New South Wales, Australia

Brian Haynes