Preparation of ion-sieve type (H)[M0.5Mn1.5]O4 (M=Mg, zn) and their lithium adsorption properties in seawater

Ion-sieve type manganese oxide spinels for the selective adsorption of lithium(Li) from seawater were prepared and their properties were examined. LiM0.5Mn1.5O4 (M=Mg, Zn) precursors, in which part of manganese(Mn) was substituted with magnesium(Mg) or zinc(Zn), were synthesized through the solid-state reaction. The adsorbents, HN0.5Mn1.5O4 (M=Mg, Zn) were derived from LiM0.5Mn1.5O4 (M=Mg, Zn) by acid treatment. The optimum acid treatment was obtained at hydrochloric acid concentration of 0.5M and 0.3M for LiMg(0.5)Nn(1.5)O(4) and LiZn(0.5)Nn(1.5)O(4) precursors, respectively. Both cases required thrice-conducted acid treatments for the best results. The adsorption of Li by HMg(0.5)Nn(1.5)O(4) and HZn(0.5)Nn(1.5)O(4) adsorbents followed the Freundlich equation and the maximum adsorption of Li in artificial seawater was 303 mg/g and 33.1 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption efficiency of Li by HMg0.5Mn1.5O4 and HZn0.5Mn1.5O4 adsorbents in artificial seawater, in which Li concentration was adjusted to 0.2 mg/L, was as high as 88% and 89%.