Alonso Gonzalez - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Alonso Gonzalez
Membranes, 2021
The objective of this work was to evaluate obtaining LiOH directly from brines with high LiCl con... more The objective of this work was to evaluate obtaining LiOH directly from brines with high LiCl concentrations using bipolar membrane electrodialysis by the analysis of Li+ ion transport phenomena. For this purpose, Neosepta BP and Fumasep FBM bipolar membranes were characterized by linear sweep voltammetry, and the Li+ transport number in cation-exchange membranes was determined. In addition, a laboratory-scale reactor was designed, constructed, and tested to develop experimental LiOH production tests. The selected LiCl concentration range, based on productive process concentrations for Salar de Atacama (Chile), was between 14 and 34 wt%. Concentration and current density effects on LiOH production, current efficiency, and specific electricity consumption were evaluated. The highest current efficiency obtained was 0.77 at initial concentrations of LiOH 0.5 wt% and LiCl 14 wt%. On the other hand, a concentrated LiOH solution (between 3.34 wt% and 4.35 wt%, with a solution purity betwe...
Energy, 2015
LiOH$H 2 O is used for preparation of alkaline batteries. The required characteristics of this co... more LiOH$H 2 O is used for preparation of alkaline batteries. The required characteristics of this compound are low levels of impurities and a specific particle size distribution. LiOH$H 2 O is produced from ore and brines. In northern Chile, lithium is produced from brines. This region presents particular desert climate conditions where water and energy are scarce. To help solve this problem, the conventional production process for battery grade LiOH$H 2 O was simulated and a modified process was developed, with an efficient consumption of energy and water, to improve the environmental sustainability of the plant, and greater process yield and product purity. Different configurations of the equipments were studied and for the best configurations the behavior of the modified process at different scenarios were simulated. It was found that the purity is independent of concentration used in feed to thickeners. The process yield increases in average 2.4% for modified process due to recycling operation. In modified process is obtained 28% more product mass, specific energy consumption decreases up to 4.8% and losses of Li/kg of product decreased by 83% compared to conventional process. The water consumption per kg of product in modified process is 1%e6.3%, being lower than in conventional process. The results presented can be considered as guidelines to address the optimization of the industrial process for obtaining the battery grade LiOH.
Membranes, 2020
A membrane electrodialysis process was tested for obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide from ... more A membrane electrodialysis process was tested for obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide from lithium brines. Currently, in the conventional procedure, a brine with Li+ 4–6 wt% is fed to a process to form lithium carbonate and further used to produce lithium hydroxide. The disadvantages of this process are its high cost due to several stage requirement and the usage of lime, causing waste generation. The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate, avoiding production of lithium carbonate. A laboratory cell was constructed to study electrochemical kinetics and determine energetic parameters. The effects of current density, electrode material, electrolyte concentration, temperature and cationic membrane (Nafion 115 and Nafion 117) on cell performance were determined. Tests showed that a current density of 1200 A/m2 and temperatures between 75–85 °C allow reduced specific electricity consumption (SEC) (7.25 ...
Membranes, 2021
The objective of this work was to evaluate obtaining LiOH directly from brines with high LiCl con... more The objective of this work was to evaluate obtaining LiOH directly from brines with high LiCl concentrations using bipolar membrane electrodialysis by the analysis of Li+ ion transport phenomena. For this purpose, Neosepta BP and Fumasep FBM bipolar membranes were characterized by linear sweep voltammetry, and the Li+ transport number in cation-exchange membranes was determined. In addition, a laboratory-scale reactor was designed, constructed, and tested to develop experimental LiOH production tests. The selected LiCl concentration range, based on productive process concentrations for Salar de Atacama (Chile), was between 14 and 34 wt%. Concentration and current density effects on LiOH production, current efficiency, and specific electricity consumption were evaluated. The highest current efficiency obtained was 0.77 at initial concentrations of LiOH 0.5 wt% and LiCl 14 wt%. On the other hand, a concentrated LiOH solution (between 3.34 wt% and 4.35 wt%, with a solution purity betwe...
Energy, 2015
LiOH$H 2 O is used for preparation of alkaline batteries. The required characteristics of this co... more LiOH$H 2 O is used for preparation of alkaline batteries. The required characteristics of this compound are low levels of impurities and a specific particle size distribution. LiOH$H 2 O is produced from ore and brines. In northern Chile, lithium is produced from brines. This region presents particular desert climate conditions where water and energy are scarce. To help solve this problem, the conventional production process for battery grade LiOH$H 2 O was simulated and a modified process was developed, with an efficient consumption of energy and water, to improve the environmental sustainability of the plant, and greater process yield and product purity. Different configurations of the equipments were studied and for the best configurations the behavior of the modified process at different scenarios were simulated. It was found that the purity is independent of concentration used in feed to thickeners. The process yield increases in average 2.4% for modified process due to recycling operation. In modified process is obtained 28% more product mass, specific energy consumption decreases up to 4.8% and losses of Li/kg of product decreased by 83% compared to conventional process. The water consumption per kg of product in modified process is 1%e6.3%, being lower than in conventional process. The results presented can be considered as guidelines to address the optimization of the industrial process for obtaining the battery grade LiOH.
Membranes, 2020
A membrane electrodialysis process was tested for obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide from ... more A membrane electrodialysis process was tested for obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide from lithium brines. Currently, in the conventional procedure, a brine with Li+ 4–6 wt% is fed to a process to form lithium carbonate and further used to produce lithium hydroxide. The disadvantages of this process are its high cost due to several stage requirement and the usage of lime, causing waste generation. The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate, avoiding production of lithium carbonate. A laboratory cell was constructed to study electrochemical kinetics and determine energetic parameters. The effects of current density, electrode material, electrolyte concentration, temperature and cationic membrane (Nafion 115 and Nafion 117) on cell performance were determined. Tests showed that a current density of 1200 A/m2 and temperatures between 75–85 °C allow reduced specific electricity consumption (SEC) (7.25 ...