Optimization of lithium extraction solar pond in Zabuye Salt Lake: Theoretical calculation combined with field experiments
Tao Ding,
Zhen Nie,
Qian Wu,
Jiang-jiang Yu,
Ling-zhong Bu,
Yun-sheng Wang,
En-yuan Xing,
Mian-ping Zheng,
Yu-bin Li
Affiliations
Tao Ding
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Zhen Nie
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China; Corresponding author
Qian Wu
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Jiang-jiang Yu
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Ling-zhong Bu
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Yun-sheng Wang
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
En-yuan Xing
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Mian-ping Zheng
MNR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Yu-bin Li
College of Engineering, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
ABSTRACT: This research optimized the structure of lithium extraction solar ponds to enhance the crystallization rate and yield of Li2CO3. Using the response surface methodology in Design-Expert 10.0.3, the authors conducted experiments to investigate the influence of four factors related to solar pond structure on the crystallization of Li2CO3 and their pairwise interactions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of the flow field within the solar pond were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to compare temperature distributions before and after optimization. The results indicate that the optimal structure for lithium extraction from the Zabuye Salt Lake solar ponds includes UCZ (Upper Convective Zone) thickness of 53.63 cm, an LCZ (Lower Convective Zone) direct heating temperature of 57.39°C, a CO32- concentration of 32.21 g/L, and an added soda ash concentration of 6.52 g/L. Following this optimized pathway, the Li2CO3 precipitation increased by 7.34% compared to the initial solar pond process, with a 33.33% improvement in lithium carbonate crystallization rate. This study demonstrates the feasibility of optimizing lithium extraction solar pond structures, offering a new approach for constructing such ponds in salt lakes. It provides valuable guidance for the efficient extraction of lithium resources from carbonate-type salt lake brines.
