We report a three-stage bench-scale column extraction process to selectively extract lithium chloride from geothermal brine. The goal of this research is to develop materials and processing technologies to improve the economics of lithium extraction and production from naturally occurring geothermal and other brines for energy storage applications. A novel sorbent, lithium aluminum layered double hydroxide chloride (LDH), is synthesized and characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and thermogravimetric analysis. Each cycle of the column extraction process consists of three steps: (1) loading the sorbent with lithium chloride from brine; (2) intermediate washing to remove unwanted ions; (3) final washing for unloading the lithium chloride ions. Our experimental analysis of eluate vs feed concentrations of Li and competing ions demonstrates that our optimized sorbents can achieve a recovery efficiency of ∼91% and possess excellent Li apparent selectivity of 47.8 compared to Na ions and 212 compared to K ions, respectively in the brine. The present work demonstrates that LDH is an effective sorbent for selective extraction of lithium from brines, thus offering the possibility of effective application of lithium salts in lithium-ion batteries leading to a fundamental shift in the lithium supply chain.

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The temperature dependent magnetization of nanocomposite alloys has been fit with a modified Handrich-Kobe equation with an asymmetric exchange fluctuation parameter combined with the Arrott-Noakes equation. The two equations of state are combined to calculate the entropy change in the magnetocaloric effect associated with the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transformation. The complete fit for the M(T) of (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 88 Zr 7 B 4 Cu nanocomposite powder is accomplished by combining the two theories. We investigate the broadening of the second-order transition arising from asymmetric exchange parameters and resulting from the fluctuations of interatomic spacing found in an amorphous matrix and the asymmetric dependence of exchange energy on interatomic spacing. The magnetic entropy curve revealed extra broadening with a refrigeration capacity (RC) value of 135 J/kg at 5 T, which is comparable to (Fe 76 Cr 8-x Mo x Cu 1 B 15 ) ribbons, which have a RC value of 180 J/kg for the same applied field. Broadening of the magnetic entropy can lead to larger RC values and a wider working temperature range, making nanocomposite alloys promising for magnetocaloric applications.

Mechanical alloying of Fe NiZr B powders leads to the formation of a -FeNi phase. In order to obtain single -phase, a powdered sample was solution annealed in the -phase field and water quenched. The Curie temperature of this powder was slightly higher than room temperature. The refrigerant capacity calculated for this alloy, kg for 5 T, is comparable to other prominent room temperature magnetocaloric materials, making this alloy a good candidate for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature with additional benefits that is non-rare earth containing and less expensive than many alternatives.

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