1. Research Group
Membrane Separation Technology and Application for Lithium Extraction
2. Brief Introduction
The research group is dedicated to addressing the strategic lithium resource needs of the nation, as well as the safety and sustainability requirements associated with the comprehensive utilization of salt lake resources. Our focus revolves around the development of the global lithium battery new energy industry and the establishment of a world-class salt lake industrial base in Qinghai. We aim to overcome the technological bottlenecks inherent in the industry while accelerating the effective transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
Team Composition
The research group consists of 10 people (including 2 mobile personnel), including 2 researcher, 1 project researchers, 1 associate researcher, 1 associate project researcher, and 5 intermediate and below level personnel. The team has successfully undertaken over 20 scientific research projects, with a total contract budget of 47 million Yuan. Collectively, we have received four technological awards and have published more than 50 academic papers. Moreover, we have secured over 20 invention patents and co-authored one monograph. The team has also guided more than 30 master’s and doctoral students in cultivating a technology innovation team focused on salt lake resources.
Key Achievements and Contributions
1.Innovative Lithium Extraction Methodologies:
We have pioneered a novel method for selective membrane separation of magnesium boron sulfur and concentrated lithium in high magnesium-to-lithium ratio salt lakes. Additionally, we have developed a green and low-cost lithium extraction process technology, achieving for the first time in China the industrial production of lithium extraction from salt lake resources. Two core invention patents related to lithium resource separation and extraction have been commercialized, generating a licensing revenue of 41.5 million yuan and facilitating a cumulative sales revenue of over 10 billion yuan. This production technology is replicable and scalable, providing robust technological innovation support for lithium extraction from high magnesium-to-lithium ratio salt lake brines and enabling comprehensive resource utilization.
2.Development of Functional Lithium-Based Materials:
We have developed high-value, functional micro-nano lithium-based new materials tailored for salt lake applications. This research contributes to the creation of an innovative value chain for "lithium carbonate-lithium battery materials."
3.High-Purity Magnesium Boron Products:
We are engaged in the development of a series of high-purity magnesium boron products derived from salt lakes, as well as in the technology for producing magnesium boron-based functional micro-nano materials. This effort has culminated in the establishment of an eco-friendly, intelligent cleaning process and innovative equipment for the comprehensive utilization of salt lake resources.
3. Introduction of The Group Director
Name: Prof. Xiaochuan Deng
Major: Physical Chemistry& Analytical Chemistry
Tel: +86-(0)13195761654
E-mail: dengxch@isl.ac.cn
Brief CV：Prof. Xiaochuan, graduated from East China University of Chemical Technology (now East China University of Science and Technology) in 1987, served as a domestic visiting scholar of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1998, and was selected for the training of relevant talents in Qinghai Province in 2001. Currently, he is a second level researcher of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Qinghai Salt Lake Research Institute, doctoral supervisor, leader of the research group on lithium extraction technology and application by membrane separation, a specially employed core researcher of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a standing director of the Council of Qinghai Provincial Association of Knowledge, and a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC Qinghai Provincial Committee. At present, the main research areas are lithium extraction from salt lakes and comprehensive resource utilization, including key technology research and demonstration of battery grade lithium carbonate production chain from salt lake resources, preparation research and application of high-value lithium magnesium boron series high-purity products and functional micro nano boron magnesium based new materials from salt lakes. Published over 50 research papers, applied for over 20 patents, and co-authored 1 monograph. Guided over 20 master's and doctoral students, cultivated a salt lake technology innovation team, and won 4 scientific and technological awards.
4. Group members
(1)Staffs
(2) Phd Candidate
(3) Master’s Degree Candidates
(4) Representative Graduates (Master’s Degree)
5. Research Projects
1. International Cooperation Special Project Qinghai Province, 2024-2027, 800k.
2. Comprehensive utilization of lithium, potassium, and boron mineral resources in the Jinaer Salt Lake in Dongtai, Qinghai Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2019-2024, 3100 K.
3. Research and application of high-value functional materials for salt lakes, 2024-2027, 1439 K.
4. Key technology research and demonstration of battery grade lithium carbonate production chain from salt lake resources, 2024-2027, 486 K.
5. Optimization and promotion application of complete technology for lithium extraction by electrodialysis membrane method, 2024-2027; 1300 K.
6. Application research of boron magnesium based functional micro nano materials in salt lakes, 2024-2027, 226 K.
7. Research on the process of recovering lithium from lithium carbonate mother liquor and the cyclic performance of adsorbents, 2024-2027, 111 K.
8. Direct extraction of lithium from refined LiCl solution from salt lake and synthesis of LiFePO4 from 2024-2027, 288 K.
6. Research Projects
1. Feasibility study on the technology scheme for direct lithium extraction from Bolivian salt lakes, enterprise project, 200 K, 2022,10-2023,10);
2. Research on selective ion migration membrane method for lithium extraction from salt lake brine, enterprise project, 100 K, 2021-2022;
33. Experimental certificate of ED membrane separation for lithium extraction, enterprise commissioned project, 2000 K, 2021-2022;
4. High value utilization research on magnesium salts in salt lakes, enterprise project, 880 K, 2019-2021;
5. Achievements transformation of salt lake battery grade lithium carbonate with an annual output of 10000 tons, key special project of Chinese Academy of Sciences for scientific and technological achievements transformation (Hongguang special project), 25000 K, 2017-2019;
6. Ionic liquid alcohol synergistic extraction system for borate ions in high magnesium lithium ratio brine, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 600 K, 2016-2019;
7. Synthesis and performance study of multi porous hydroalumina lithium salt adsorbent, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 800 K, 2015-2018;
8. Research on the new lithium extraction process from Cha'erhan salt lake, Class A Project of "Western Light" Young Scholars of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 500 K, 2016-2018;
9. Key technology research and pilot testing of magnesium hydroxide modification as a by-product of salt lakes, enterprise project, 800 K, 2014-2016;
10. Basic Research on the Application of Ionic Liquid Isooctanol High Efficiency Centrifugal Extraction of Boric Acid from High Magnesium Brine, Science Foundation of Qinghai Province, 200 K, 2014-2015;
11. Integration and Demonstration of Comprehensive Utilization Technology for Lithium, Potassium, and Boron Resources in Dongtai Salt Lake, Qinghai Province, National "Tenth Five Year Plan" Science and Technology Research Project, 850 K, 2004-2008;
12. Industrial technology research on lithium extraction from brine in Qinghai Salt Lake, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1000 K, 2002-2008;
13. Qinghai Salt Lake Lithium Extraction and Resource Comprehensive Utilization, National High tech Industrialization Demonstration Project, 50000 K, 2001-2008;
14. Engineering technology research on the annual production of 3000 tons of lithium carbonate and its resource comprehensive utilization in Dongtai Jinnaer Salt Lake, a major scientific and technological research project in Qinghai Province, 3000 K, 2001-2008;
15. The annual production test of 50 tons of lithium carbonate at Dongtai Jinnaer Salt Lake Qinghai Province, 1000 K, 1997-1999;
16. Experimental study on selective separation and extraction of lithium resources from high magnesium lithium ratio salt lake brine, Qinghai Province Science and Technology Key Project, 680 K, 1999.08-2001.04;
17. Research on the Industrialization Project of New Lithium Extraction Technology in Salt Lakes, Qinghai Province Science and Technology Key Project, 1520 K, 2000.01-2001.04.
7. Publications
(1) Papers
1. Yongjie Zhu, Guowang Xu*, Chaoliang Zhu, Ruirui Wang, Xiaoxiang He, Bing Mu, Jie Fan, Wanxia Ma, Zhenghua He, Xiaochuan Deng*, Progress of MOFs based materials for lithium extraction from brines, Journal of Salt Lake Research 2024, http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/63.1026.p.20240712.1016.002.html.
2. Mu, Bing, Deng, Xiaochuan, Zhu, Chaoliang, Wang, Ruirui, Xu, Guowang, Zhu, Yongjie, He, Xiaoxiang, Ma, Wanxia, Fan, Jie, Luo, Shutong, Qing, Binju*, Preparation of composites of lithium-aluminum layered double hydroxides and biochar and their performance in lithium extraction from aqueous media. Desalination and Water Treatment 2024, 320, 100843.
3. Xueqin Guo, Xiaochuan Deng, Chaoliang Zhu, Xin Fu, Ruirui Wang, Wanxia Ma, Jie Fan, Fangtao Zuo, Binju Qing*, Preparation and adsorption properties for Cs+ of modified diatomite-supported copper hexacyanoferrate composite. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2023, 39, 815-829.
4. RuiRui Wang, Chaoliang Zhu, Bing Mu, Wanxia Ma, Jie Fan, Guowang Xu, Yifei Shi, Xiaochuan Deng, Binju Qing*, Preparation of cubic manganese carbonate by hydrothermal method and its application in the extraction of lithium. Inorganic Chemicals Industry 2024, https://doi.org/10.19964/j.issn.1006-4990.2024-0090.
5. Shutong Luo, Xiaochuan Deng, Binju Qing, Xiaoxiang He, Jie Fan, Wanxia Ma, Yanan Wang, Chaoliang Zhu*, Isothermal evaporation of winter brine from Coipasa Salt Lake at 25 ℃, Journal of Salt Lake Research，2024, http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/63.1026.P.20240624.1948.004.html.
6. Xin Fu, Jie Fan, Wanxia Ma, Fangtao Zuo, Chaoliang Zhu, Xiaochuan Deng, Experimental Study on Adsorption of Lithium in Lithium Extraction Tail Solution from Salt Lake. Journal of Salt Lake Research，2023, 31, 67-76.
7. Yangyang Li, Chaoliang Zhu, Xiaochuan Deng, Yifei Shi, Faying Fan, Jie Fan, Boron Extraction from Salt Lake Brine by Hydroxyl Functionalized Ionic Liquid System. Journal of Salt Lake Research，2021, 29, 76-82.
(2) Patents
1. Method for preparing battery grade lithium carbonate, CN106186002B.
2. Method for recovering electrode discharge during lithium extraction by electrodialysis of high magnesium solution, CN106365183B.
3. Method for preparing high-purity submicron lithium carbonate, CN105399115B.
4. Comprehensive utilization of magnesium hydroxide, CN106517274B.
5. Preparation method of magnesium based composite metal hydroxides, CN106517261B.
6. Method for preparing lithium chloride concentrate using the eluent obtained from lithium adsorption as raw material, CN106492639B.
7. A comprehensive utilization method for lithium containing waste liquid, CN106379919B.
8. A device and method for removing impurities from high lithium solutions, CN105797428B.
9. A comprehensive utilization method for by-product magnesium hydroxide, CN106517269B.
10. Preparation method for composite metal hydroxides, CN106517099B.
11. A method for preparing composite metal hydroxides, CN106745116B.
12. Preparation method of nanocomposite metal hydroxides, CN106517270B.
13. Preparation method of three-dimensional composite metal hydroxides, CN106517304B.
(14) A method for preparing lithium bicarbonate solution CN104211097B.
(15) Method for separating magnesium and concentrating lithium from salt lake brine CN1281497C.
(16) Nanofiltration is a method for separating magnesium and enriching lithium from salt lake brine CN1542147.
(17) The manganese dioxide method is a method for extracting lithium from salt lake brine CN100343399C.
(18) The method of extracting lithium from salt lake brine by adsorption CN1243112C.
(19) The hydrothermal preparation method of low water borate zinc powder with controllable morphology CN1789135B.
(20) A purification method for lithium bis (ethylenediborate) borate CN100503617C.
(21) A process method for producing high-purity lithium carbonate using salt lake lithium resources CN101177288.
(22) A method for rapidly precipitating lithium carbonate from lithium bicarbonate solution CN101182012.
7. Awards and Honors
1. First Prize of Science and Technology in Qinghai Province, 2012.
2. Chinese Academy of Sciences Science and Technology Promotion Development Award, 2016.
3. China Excellent Patent Award, 2017.
4. Qinghai Province Technology Major Contribution Award, 2012.