Instant Interlayer Restoration Strategy for Lithium Adsorption Engineering Enhancement in Sulfate-type Brines

It was confirmed that the detrimental effect of SO 4 2– on Li + desorption and readsorption intensified with the increase of the SO 4 2– /Cl – ratio, resulting in application limitations of aluminum-based adsorbent (Li/Al-LDHs) in sulfate-type brines. Based on the interlayer anion exchangeability of Li/Al-LDHs, a one-step interlayer restoration strategy was designed with the assistance of molecular dynamics to rapidly substitute the intercalated SO 4 2– with preferentially desorbed Cl –, aiming to fundamentally address the damage to the cycling performance. The strategy effectiveness was verified by the restored adsorption and desorption capacities in various sulfate-type brines. Furthermore, enhanced lithium extraction processes for sulfate-type brines were established and showed universal applicability for complex brines with different compositions during fixed-bed cycles. By regulating the implementation frequency, the Li + extraction efficiency was improved, in which the extraction amount per unit time could increase by more than 100% compared with the conventional process.