Electrochemical extraction of lithium by ion insertion from natural brine using a flow-by reactor: Possibilities and limitations

Abstract

Experimental results on the sustainable extraction of lithium chloride from natural brine (Salar de Hombre Muerto, Argentina) using a flow-by electrochemical reactor at constant applied current are presented. The maximum applied current, the current efficiency and the lithium recovery per mass of lithium ion insertion material are evaluated and the flow-by vs. flow-through configurations are compared.