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Lithium is a vital aspect of the strategic development of the alternative energy and nuclear industries, and the demand for this metal is currently increasing rapidly. China possesses significant lithium resources, nearly 80 % of which are situated in salt lake brine. Solvent extraction is a viable means of extracting lithium ions from brine that has high magnesium-to-lithium ratio, and provides high selectivity along with ready scale-up to industrial production levels. The most common extraction technology for such scenarios is the tributyl phosphate (TBP)-FeCl 3 -kerosene system. However, this system tends to lose Fe3+ during the extraction process and the concurrent use of acid and alkali can seriously affect the stability of the organic phase. The present work demonstrates a new extraction process employing TBP as the main extractant, sodium tetraphenyl boron as a co-extractant and phenethyl isobutyrate as a diluent. Optimization of the relative amounts of these components along with the phase ratio provided a single-stage lithium ion extraction efficiency of 85.70 % together with a separation factor of lithium to magnesium ions of 1175. The organic phase was washed with a LiCl + NaCl solution to remove impurity ions then stripped five times with a NaHCO 3 solution, with a Li+ stripping efficiency >99 %. During ten replicate extractions, the Li+ extraction efficiency remained stable at approximately 84 %, demonstrating good stability. NMR spectra verified that the binding strength of metal cations to TBP decreased in the order of Li+ > Na+ ≫ Mg2+, indicating selectivity for the extraction of Li+. This single step NaHCO 3 method was adopted to simplify the extraction process. The overall strategy avoids the use of strong acids or bases that otherwise corrode equipment and provides greatly improved long-term stability of the organic phase. • TBP-sodium tetraphenyl boron-phenethyl isobutyrate extraction system was proposed. • A single-stage extraction efficiency of 85.70 % for lithium ion could be obtained. • The maximum separation factor of lithium to magnesium ions reached up to 1175. • NaHCO 3 was used as stripping agent to simplify the extraction process. • The proposed extraction system showed high stability and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

：Manganese lithium ion sieve is suitable for extracting lithium from salt lakes with high magnesium lithium ratio in China. MnO2·0.5H2O lithium ion sieve were synthesized from three different manganese sources: MnSO4, MnOOH and Mn3O4. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）,scanning electron microscope（SEM）, special surface area analysis（the BET method）, and atomic absorption spectrometer（AAS）.The experimental results show that the three manganese sources can synthesize relatively pure Li1.6Mn1.6O4 ion sieve precursors. After acid pickling, the BET specific surface areas of the three lithium ion sieves have increased significantly compared with the precursors, with increments of 546.6%, 129.9% and 142.2% respectively. Among them, the ion sieve synthesized by MnSO4 has the largest specific surface area, and the ion sieve synthesized by Mn3O4 has a special rod shape. The adsorption results showed that the lithium adsorption capacity of the ion sieve synthesized by MnSO4 source was the highest. In the low lithium solution with a concentration of only 20 mg/L, the lithium extraction capacity was 19 mg/g. MoreReset [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium is a national strategic resource, and the high-efficiency separation of lithium and magnesium in Salt Lake is the key to ensure the sustainable utilization of lithium resources in China. It is vital important to develop a highly stable lithium ion adsorbent. In this work, Li 2 TiO 3 is synthesized by calcination TiO 2 and Li 2 CO 3 , then which is ion-exchanged with HCl solution to obtain H 2 TiO 3. The experimental results show that hollow structure H 2 TiO 3 has a large pore volume (2.67 cm3/g) and specific surface area (111.57 m2/g). The lithium adsorption performance is systematically investigated by using it as an adsorbent to recover of Li+ from aqueous solution. The adsorption experiments results show that high solution pH environment is more beneficial to adsorb of Li+, and the maximum adsorption capacity of 36.2 mg/g is obtained at pH=13. The results of kinetic experiments indicate that the adsorption behavior of Li+ conforms to the pseudo-second-order model, demonstrating the adsorption process is chemosorption. Additionally, Li+ adsorption conforms to the Langmuir model, indicating adsorption behavior is monolayer adsorption. The thermodynamic experimental results show that the higher temperature is beneficial to Li+ adsorption, and the Gibbs free energy Δ G ϴ of the adsorption process is negative, indicating that the adsorption process is spontaneous. Meanwhile, Δ H ϴ is greater than zero, indicating the process is endothermic. The results of ion selectivity experiments show that H 2 TiO 3 has a high selectivity for Li+ (2.91 mmol·g−1) in a mixed solution contains of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+. The sorption capacity of H 2 TiO 3 also maintained at 27.55 mg/g after 5 adsorption/desorption cycles, and the dissolution loss rate of titanium is only 0.06 %, indicating the hollow H 2 TiO 3 had a strong structure stability in the process of Li+ adsorption. Therefore, the hollow structure H 2 TiO 3 lithium ion sieve with large adsorption capacity and high stability is a promising adsorbent in the application of lithium extraction from Salt Lake brine. [Display omitted] • H 2 TiO 3 hollow structure with large BET surface area was prepared by using TiO 2 hollow sphere. • The maximum adsorption capacity of Li+ on hollow H 2 TiO 3 is 47 mg/g at 298 K. • The dissolution loss rate of Ti4+ is only 0.06 % after 5 adsorption/desorption cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Porous biochar for anode material of lithium ion battery (LIBs) was prepared from wheat straw, one of the most common biomass of agricultural waste in China, with KOH using as activator. Microstructure of the porous biochar was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The porous biochar prepared contains parallel microporous channels derived from wheat straw. These microchannel structures offer the advantage of facilitating the transport of electrolyte ions and providing more active sites. Meanwhile, the electrochemical properties were investigated by galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) curves, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The specific capacitance of biomass carbon activated by KOH reaches 271.7 F g−1 at scanning rate of 1 mv s−1. After 100 cycles at 0.1 °C rate, the discharge capacity of lithium-ion battery prepared is 310 mA h g−1, which shows that the material has good rate performance and cycle stability. The samples prepared by this method have a rich pore structure, can improve the permeability of electrolyte, increase the reactive sites, and increase the free movement space of lithium ions and charges, which is conducive to the improvement of electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Na-Li geothermometer provided by Michard (1990) is relatively suitable for fully equilibrated waters from felsic reservoirs. • The Na-Li ion-exchange equilibrium in thermal waters cannot be reached without a prior Na-K equilibrium. • Small measurement errors of Na and Li concentrations could bring about large deviations for Na-Li geothermometers. • The Li-Mg geothermometer is not recommended for estimating the temperatures of the felsic reservoirs. Lithium-related geothermometers are relatively rarely used because they are based on empirical relations derived from poorly known water-mineral equilibrium reactions and do not always give valid estimations. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of Na-Li and Li-Mg geothermometers based on hydrochemical data for geothermal waters from nine geothermal systems in felsic reservoirs in China. The results indicate that the Na-Li geothermometer provided by Michard (1990), which is similar to those given by Fouillac and Michard (1981) and Verma and Santoyo (1997) with Cl <0.3 mol/L, is suitable for fully equilibrated waters from felsic reservoirs and their estimates better represent the temperatures of the deep rather than the shallow reservoirs. The Na-Li ion-exchange equilibrium in thermal waters cannot be reached without a prior Na-K equilibrium, which ensures that the Na concentration remains constant. Also, variations in the Na-Li ratios may be significantly unpredictable such that the Michard (1990) Na-Li geothermometer may coincidentally give valid temperature estimates for thermal waters from the low-temperature geothermal systems. Furthermore, the Li in the thermal waters may originate from water-mineral reactions or mixing with magmatic water or both. In reservoirs consisting of basalt and felsic rocks, variations in hydrothermal alteration may be the key factor that explains the large differences in Na-Li equilibria in the thermal waters. Additionally, small measurement errors could bring about large deviations in the temperature estimations due to the large difference between Na and Li concentrations in the thermal waters from the felsic reservoirs. Unlike the Li concentration, which remains constant once the thermal waters leave the deep reservoirs, the concentration of Mg in the thermal waters is sensitive to the temperature in the shallow reservoirs. Hence, we discourage the use of the Li-Mg geothermometer for estimating felsic reservoir temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jezechake Salt Lake brine in China is rich in lithium ions coexisting with relatively high concentrations of carbonate and borate anions. Both carbonate and borate anions have a pH-buffering ability to accept the exchanged H+ ions of lithium ion sieves, enhancing the adsorption process of Li+ ions. When Jezechake Salt Lake brine passes through a titanium-type ion-sieve-packed column, good lithium breakthrough occurs owing to the pH-buffering action in the brine, which is of great significance for effective lithium recovery from brines in industrial production. In addition, the boron content of Jezechake Salt Lake brine is high, and its recovery is valuable for industrial applications. Here, an N -methylglucamine resin-packed column was connected in series behind a titanium-type ion-sieve-packed column to obtain boron simultaneously with the aim of lowering the energy consumption and cost of lithium recovery. During the adsorption process, Jezechake Salt Lake brine was successively fed into the lithium and boron adsorption columns. The two packed columns were then desorbed independently through acidic solution washing to obtain the Li and B eluents. The breakthrough behavior and elution performance of Li and B in the packed columns were investigated experimentally, and the practicability and efficacy of the proposed process were assessed. • Jezechake Salt Lake brine contains rich carbonate and borate anions coexisting with Li+ ions. • Carbonate and borate in brine have the pH-buffering action to enhance Li+/H+ ion-exchange on lithium ion-sieves. • Good breakthrough behavior of Li+ ions when Jezechake Salt Lake brine passing through the ion-sieves column. • Boron in brine is extracted simultaneously to reduce the energy consumption and cost in lithium recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-voltage heat release from batteries can cause safety issues for electric vehicles. Relevant scientific research work is carried out in the laboratory. The battery safety of laboratory experiments should not be underestimated. In order to evaluate the safety performance of batteries in the laboratory testing of driving conditions of electric vehicles, this paper simulated and compared the discharge characteristics of two common batteries (lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and nickel–cobalt–manganese (NCM) ternary lithium battery) in three different operating conditions. The operating conditions are the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), WLTP (World Light Vehicle Test Procedure) and CLTC-P (China light vehicle test cycle) for normal driving of electric vehicles. LFP batteries have a higher maximum voltage and lower minimum voltage under the same initial voltage conditions, with a maximum voltage difference variation of 11 V. The maximum current of WLTP is significantly higher than NEDC and CLTC-P operating conditions (>20 A). Low current discharge conditions should be emulated in teaching simulation and experiments for safety reasons. The simulation data showed that the LFP battery had good performance in maintaining the voltage plateau and discharge voltage stability, while the NCM battery had excellent energy density and long-term endurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of energy storage systems can play a role in peak and frequency regulation, solve the issue of limited flexibility in cleaner power systems in China, and ensure the stability and safety of the power grid. This paper presents a comprehensive environmental impact analysis of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system for the storage and delivery of 1 kW-hour of electricity. Quantities of copper, graphite, aluminum, lithium iron phosphate, and electricity consumption are set as uncertainty and sensitivity parameters with a variation of [90%, 110%]. The results show that global warming potential is 9.08E+01 kg CO2 eq. and fossil resource use is 1.21E+03 MJ, with uncertainty ranges of [8.54E+01, 9.23E+01] and [1.15E+03, 1.23E+03], respectively. Electricity consumption during the manufacture and installation process is the greatest contributor to climate change (CO2 eq. emissions), accounting for 39.71% and largely owing to non-renewable sources, followed by cathode materials at 27.85% and anode materials at 18.36%. The disposal and recycling process offers emission reductions but requires an additional 1.17% use of fossil resources. Sobol T indices for the quantity of electricity are the highest for acidification, climate change, fossil resource use, and ionizing radiation. By considering the pathway of China's electricity mix from 2020 to 2050 under the Paris Agreement's 2° target, the potential for environmental emission reduction in the system is evaluated. The results show that the greener electricity mix could lead to a 24.59% reduction in acidification impact, a 35.74% reduction in climate change impact, a 33.24% reduction in fossil resource use, and a 44.13% reduction in ionizing radiation impact. This study offers a comprehensive view of the environmental impact reductions associated with the lithium iron phosphate battery and its industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium is an important mineral resource and a critical element in the production of lithium batteries, which are currently in high demand. Oilfield brine has significant value as a raw material for lithium extraction. However, it is often considered a byproduct of oil and gas production and is either abandoned or reinjected underground. Exploration and development of oilfield brines can enhance the economic benefits of oilfields and avoid wasting resources. Current methods for predicting brine distribution rely on geological genetic analysis, which results in low accuracy and reliability. To address this issue, we propose a workflow for lithium brine prediction that uses seismic and logging data. We introduced waveform clustering control and used the mapping relationship between seismic waveforms and well-logging curves to predict high-quality reservoirs based on the electrical and physical properties of lithium brine reservoirs. In this workflow, the seismic waveforms were first clustered using singular value decomposition. The sample sets of well-logging properties were established for the target location. The target properties were divided into high- and low-frequency components and predicted separately. The predicted results of the high-quality reservoirs in the study area were verified using elemental content test results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Our study indicates that well-logging property prediction constrained by waveform clustering can predict lithium brines in a carbonate reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underground brines in the Sichuan Basin of China are rich in lithium, potassium, strontium, chlorine, etc. In order to fully develop and utilize these brine resources, it is necessary to carry out phase equilibrium research about the quaternary system LiCl–KCl–SrCl2–H2O and develop a reasonable lithium extraction process. The quaternary system LiCl–KCl–SrCl2–H2O at 273.2 K were determined using the isothermal dissolution equilibrium method. As a result, the corresponding phase diagrams were drawn based on the data. The phase diagram shows that the quaternary system LiCl–KCl–SrCl2–H2O has no double salt or solid solution at 273.2 K and there are two invariant points, five univariate curves and four solid phase crystallization fields, which are LiCl·2H2O, SrCl2·2H2O, SrCl2·6H2O and KCl. Furthermore, Pitzer's model was used to predict the solubility of salts in the quaternary system. The calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Finally, combined with isothermal evaporation method and the phase diagram of the quaternary system, a brine evaporation process was designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuel usage has a great impact on the environment and global climate. Promoting new energy vehicles (NEVs) is essential for green and low-carbon transportation and supporting sustainable development. Lithium-ion power batteries (LIPBs) are crucial energy-storage components in NEVs, directly influencing their performance and safety. Therefore, exploring LIPB reliability technologies has become a vital research area. This paper aims to comprehensively summarize the progress in LIPB reliability research. First, we analyze existing reliability studies on LIPB components and common estimation methods. Second, we review the state-estimation methods used for accurate battery monitoring. Third, we summarize the commonly used optimization methods in fault diagnosis and lifetime prediction. Fourth, we conduct a bibliometric analysis. Finally, we identify potential challenges for future LIPB research. Through our literature review, we find that: (1) model-based and data-driven approaches are currently more commonly used in state-estimation methods; (2) neural networks and deep learning are the most prevalent methods in fault diagnosis and lifetime prediction; (3) bibliometric analysis indicates a high interest in LIPB reliability technology in China compared to other countries; (4) this research needs further development in overall system reliability, research on real-world usage scenarios, and advanced simulation and modeling techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, a comprehensive transient fuel cell-battery hybrid power system model is established to explore the output performances and dynamic responses of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). A fuel cell system sub-model, a one-dimensional transient Li-ion battery sub-model, two direct current/direct current (DC/DC) sub-models as well as a vehicle load sub-model are integrated. The coupled heat and mass transfer processes are considered inside fuel cell system and Li-ion battery. After rigorous model validation, the overall performances under several typical China standard vehicle road conditions are investigated, including power distribution between different power units, battery state of charge (SOC), battery charge/discharge rate, fuel cell operating duration, temperature, and other key parameters. During the 100 km h−1 acceleration processes under the preliminary rule-based energy management strategy (EMS), the accelerated speed is found to be the largest in the beginning, resulting in the fact that the discharge power for battery increases sharply. The shorter the acceleration time, the larger the maximum power demand for Li-ion battery. During the combined 1300 s high-speed operating conditions under the on-off switch EMS, the total operating duration of fuel cell system is calculated to be about 531 s, and the total output power is calculated to be 11,556 kJ. In comparison, the vehicle saves about 1044 kJ energy and increases the fuel cell operation duration by 333.7% under the power-following EMS. The present study provides important guidance in terms of dynamic simulation analysis and energy management strategy for FCEVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) on a large scale is crucial for meeting the desired climate commitments, where affordability plays a vital role. However, the expected surge in prices of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, four critical materials in EV batteries, could hinder EV uptake. To explore these impacts in the context of China, the world's largest EV market, we expand and enrich an integrated assessment model. We find that under a high material cost surge scenario, EVs would account for 35% (2030) and 51% (2060) of the total number of vehicles in China, significantly lower than 49% (2030) and 67% (2060) share in the base-line, leading to a 28% increase in cumulative carbon emissions (2020-2060) from road transportation. While material recycling and technical battery innovation are effective long-term countermeasures, securing the supply chains of critical materials through international cooperation is highly recommended, given geopolitical and environmental fragilities. Under a high-cost scenario for battery critical materials, the uptake of electric vehicles in China may be greatly reduced, leading to increased cumulative carbon emissions. This may jeopardize both China's electric vehicle and climate targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of electric and hybrid vehicles in the last five years forecasts a waste problem when their batteries achieve end-of-life. Li-ion batteries for vehicles have been assembled using materials from natural resources (as Li, Fe, Al, Cu Co, Mn and P). Among them, LiFePO4 cathode materials have demonstrated advantages such as charge–discharge cycles, thermal stability, surface area and raw materials availability (against Ni and Co systems). Due to the performance, LFP batteries stand out in heavy duty fleet, achieving 90% of new energy buses in China. To achieve the circular economy, the recycling of LFP batteries may be carried out by pyrometallurgy (thermal processing), hydrometallurgy (aqueous processing) or both in combination. Comparatively, hydrometallurgical processing is more advantageous due to its low energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In addition, Li may be recovered in a high-pure grade. This work is a literature review of the current alternatives for the recycling of LFP batteries by hydrometallurgy, comparing designed processes in the literature and indicating solutions towards a circular economy. The major recycling steps of hydrometallurgy routes such as pre-treatments, leaching and purification steps will be gathered and discussed in terms of efficiency and environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the significance of critical minerals for Australia's sovereignty and economic future. Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and strategic metals, are crucial for various industries such as battery manufacturing, solar panels, and wind turbines. The author argues that Australia should prioritize manufacturing capabilities to fully benefit from its stronghold in critical minerals. The article also mentions the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act in the US, which aims to strengthen manufacturing and ensure technological leadership over China. The author emphasizes the need for Australia to recognize this economic shift and invest in manufacturing to drive economic growth and resilience. Additionally, the article discusses the risks associated with Australia's current approach of exporting raw minerals to China, suggesting the implementation of a significant tax on raw critical mineral exports to subsidize domestic processing and manufacturing, creating jobs and enhancing Australia's strategic interests. [Extracted from the article]

With the increasing demand for lithium, the shortage of resources has become increasingly apparent. In order to conserve resources and to improve recovery, the extraction of lithium from salt lakes has become mandatory for sustainable development. Porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials have attracted extensive attention due to their high/tunable porosity, pore function, multiple pore structures/compositions, and open metal sites. Moreover, MOFs combine the advantages of other porous materials and have a wide range of applications, which have received significant interest from the scientific community. Therefore, the selection of MOFs materials, the optimization of preparation methods, and the research of lithium separators are key directions to improve the total yield of lithium resources in salt lakes in China. This study aims to improve the comprehensive utilization of resources after lithium extraction and strengthen the engineering technology research of lithium extraction from salt lakes. This study can help to achieve the goal of efficient, integrated, and sustainable utilization of salt lake resources. An attempt has been made to summarize the types and preparation methods of MOFs materials, as well as the separation mechanism of MOFs nanofiltration membranes, with reference to its application in lithium extraction from salt lake brine. Finally, the future development of MOFs nanofiltration membranes for lithium extraction from salt lakes is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from traditional lithium-ion battery, the solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs) using solid electrolytes (SEs) have attracted much attention for their potential of high safety, high energy density, good rate performance, and wide operating temperature range in recent years. In China, the SSLB-relevant fundamental research and industrialization exploration are progressing rapidly. In this perspective, we present a timely overview of the recent research and development of SSLBs in China in the past 1 year, covering the latest achievements of SSLBs which used sulfide SEs, oxide SEs, solid polymer electrolytes, and halide SEs, respectively. Moreover, the government policies and the latest company industrialization process relative to SSLBs are comprehensively summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is both essential to sustainable resource utilization and environmental conservation. While spent batteries possess a resource value, they pose an environmental hazard at the same time. Since the start of development to recycle spent LIBs in 1990s, important contributions have been made and a number of achievements have been accomplished by scholars globally. Therefore, it is valuable to summarize the developments on spent LIB recycling and to analyze the characteristics and trends comprehensively. A review of the progress in this field will provide guidance for future development. In this study, recycling characteristics and developing trends including the research foundation, milestone, research hotspot, key technologies, and emerging trends were identified based on visual scientometric analysis followed by a discussion on future research directions in this area. For the analysis, 1041 publications in English were collected, summarized, and categorized. The distribution of scientific publications on spent LIB recycling from 1995 to 2020 displayed an increasing trend in numbers. China made the biggest contribution with 528 publications and basically cooperated with all other countries. The research fields with the highest contributions were "engineering", "chemistry", and "environmental science and technology". The keywords recovery, lithium ion battery, and cobalt appeared in high frequency. "Metal value" was identified as the most frequently used keyword which began to burst in 2005 and ended in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of importance to reclaim single-salt of potash from Li+-type brines of low concentration. In this work the potassium salts KHCO3 was efficiently separated from the lithium carbonate-type brines with the aid of CO2 carbonation. The phase field was provided in which the precipitation of KHCO3 occurs and single-salt of potassium can be obtained. The low concentration of [Li+] was also successfully concentrated to a high level (8.1 g/L), and this concentration can be used as sources for Li+-salts production using pre-developed strategies, which looks forward wider applications of the lithium resources of natural brine. This state-of-art was traced via isotherm evaporation on the quaternary system of Li+–K+–CO32−–H2O at 298.15 K in which the carbonation steps were performed by CO2. Metastable phase diagram was found to consist of three invariant points, seven univariant curves, and four crystallization fields corresponding to Li2CO3, KHCO3, potassium carbonate sesquihydrate (K2CO3 ⋅ 3/2H2O), and a potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate double salt (K2CO3 ⋅ 2 KHCO3 ⋅ 1.5H2O). There was no crystallization field corresponding to LiHCO3. The pH-composition diagram and density-composition diagram were also plotted. This work was carried out in aim of extracting/separating single salts of alkali metals from carbonate-type brines of west China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of lithium carbonate from brines has become the dominate trend in the world since the beginning of the century. Dangxiong Co, located in the interior of the Tibetan Plateau, China, is a carbonate-type lithium salt lake. The lake, rich in Li, B, K and other valuable elements, is of great economic value. The concentration rules of these elements and the salt crystallization paths in the brine were studied in an isothermal evaporation experiment at 25 °C. The sequence in sedimentation of the primary salts, which crystallized from the brine during evaporation experiment at 25 °C, was halite (NaCl)—trona (Na2CO3·NaHCO3·2H2O)—zabuyelite (Li2CO3)—Glaserite (3K2SO4·Na2SO4)—sylvite (KCl)—borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O). This is some different from what one may conclude with the metastable phase diagram of the quinary system Na–K–CO3–SO4–Cl–H2O at 25 °C. Lithium precipitation was a continuous process that occurred throughout the whole experiment. But, it was difficult to obtain high-grade lithium salt during the evaporation operation at 25 °C. Potash was precipitated as Glaserite and sylvite in the experiment with high grade, which made the Dangxiong Co salt lake brine suitable to produce potash. Borax was precipitated in the late stage. High-grade borax could be obtained from Dangxiong Co salt lake brine. The experiment results indicate that the lithium carbonate exploiting technology that is being used on the Zabuye salt lake could be applicable to the Dangxiong Co salt lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploitation and utilization of mineral resources have played a vital role in China's rapid economic developments. Although the history of mineral processing is quite long, technologies in this field have varied with the changes of market demands. This is particularly the case for minerals whose high-grade deposits are depleting. The aim of this review is to present our recent efforts on developing new routes for the utilization of low-grade minerals, such as iron ores and brine-containing lithium. The emphasis on the two minerals lies in the fact that iron plays a vital role in modern-day civilization and lithium is a key component in electric vehicles for transportation. Furthermore, the utilization of magnesium chloride reserves, one of the largest wastes in western China, as raw materials for fabrication of functional materials is also included in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals such as Co, Li, Mn, Ni, etc. and organic compounds enrich spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These batteries seriously threaten human health and the environment. Meanwhile, with the development of new energy vehicles, the shortage of valuable metal resources which are used as raw materials for power batteries is becoming a serious problem. Using proper methods to recycle spent LIBs can both save resources and protect the environment. Pyrometallury is a kind of recycling method that is operated under high temperature with the aim of recovering useful metals after pre-treatment and organic binder removal with the characteristic of high temperature and it is easy to operate. Hydrometallurgy is characterized by high recovery efficiency, low reaction energy consumption, and high reaction rate, and is widely used in the recycling process of spent LIBs. During biometallurgy, valuable metals in the spent LIBs are extracted by microbial metabolism or microbial acid production processes. Since the drive for green and low secondary pollution, biometallurgy as well as solvent extraction and the electrochemical method have earned more attention during recent years. This mini-review analyzes the relationship between the emergence of new energy vehicles and the recycling status of spent LIBs. Meanwhile, this paper also consists of detailed treatment and recycling methods for LIBs and provides a summary of the management regulations of current waste for LIBs. What is more, the main challenges and further prospects in terms of LIBs management in China are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee) is an original leafy vegetable from China, and it is a valuable source of bioactive compounds. In the literature, there are no practical recommendations for the cultivation and fertilization of this species. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of nitrogen nutrition levels (70 and 90 mg N per dm3) and various foliar treatments (Se, Si, Li, V, and SA—salicylic acid) on the quantity of the yield and the quality of flowering Chinese cabbage grown in two varied soilless cultivation systems: under pot cultivation (mixture of peat and sand) and hydroponic culture. In conducted studies, we have confirmed the hypothesis that the intensity of nitrogen nutrition and the application of foliar spraying modify the yield of plants, both the quantity and the quality aspects. The factors under analysis had a diversified and multidirectional influence on the yield, growth, and quality of the plants. The results varied between the two cultivation systems. This was proved by the PCA (principal component analysis). Generally, the plants grown in the hydroponic system were characterized by higher yields than those grown in pot cultivation. This was found to be a stimulating effect of N nutrition on the content of that nutrient in the aerial parts of the plants. Plants sprayed with Si and Se were characterized by a high content of Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids, and relatively high antioxidant activity. Finally, the samples subjected to different foliar spray treatments could be classified into appropriate groups based on the quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of isotopes in quartz to reveal the age of China's Peking Man. The Peking Man fossils which belong to Homo erectus were found during archaeological excavations in the 1920s and 30s. The cave in which they were found collapsed leaving the question of their age unanswered. Topics include the collaboration of Darryl Granger and Guanjun Shen and colleagues to produce a suitable method in which the age of the fossils could reliably be determined using isotopic analysis.

The concentration of silica in water samples from the desert area of Xinjiang, N. W. China, has been measured by colorimetry with ammonium molybdate. The observed pattern of dependence of the concentration of silica on the concentration of sodium ion (Na+) in the water samples is consistent with the pattern obtained by experiments on in-vitro dissolution of silica gel in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. This indicates that the dissolution of silica in the hydrologic system in this area depends on the concentration of Na+. Calcium ion (Ca2+), which is known to play an important role on the dissolution of silica on the basis of in-vitro experiments, was observed to take little part in the dissolution of silica in actual natural water samples. This implies that the Ca2+ is bound to the hydrogen carbonate anion or that the Ca2+ content of natural water containing salts is very low, owing to precipitation. In these samples silicate-Na+ was identified as the dissolution species of silica; it was also ascertained that Ca2+ did not form complexes with silicate species. These observations resulted from direct identification of dissolved chemical species by use of FAB-MS (fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry). The research indicates that in water samples in this critically arid region the concentration of “dissolved” silica is basically determined by the concentration of Na+, indicative of pure inorganic conditions in the desert area of Xinjiang, N.W. China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentration of Li, associated with coal, has been found in the Guanbanwusu coal Mine, Inner Mongolia, China. Earlier studies suggested that the lithium came from the Yinshan Paleoland during the peat-forming stage. The results of Li isotope determinations and calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) indicated that the lithium in the peat was released into the pore water and adsorbed by kaolinite edge surfaces (octahedral layers and/or tetrahedral layers) in the subsequent diagenesis and coalification. Alternatively, the Li of the partings, the floor, and the roof of the No. 6 coal seam also likely originated from the underlying bauxite of the Benxi Formation. Specifically, we determined the Li isotopic fractionations produced in chelation by small carboxylate (Δ7/6Li organolithium-aq = −0.35‰), in adsorption onto kaolinite edge surfaces (Δ7/6Li octahedral layer-aq = 4.36‰, Δ7/6Li tetrahedral layer-aq = −4.53‰), and during incorporation into the lattices (Δ7/6Li Al2-aq = −8.2‰ and Δ7/6Li Al1-aq = −11.9‰). Combining these results with the δ7Li of 3.37 ± 0.13‰ for the moyite of the Yinshan Paleoland, we deduced a theoretical δ7Li range for the No. 6 coal seam and the partings, 2.85–7.38‰, exactly covering the determined δ7Li values of the coal and the partings. However, only the partings plotted in the theoretical δ7Li range of 1.13–5.66‰ assuming the bauxites (with δ7Li 1.30 ± 0.03‰) as the lithium source. During weathering and deposition, conversion of structurally incorporated Li within the grain boundaries of polycrystalline minerals of the bauxites to adsorbed Li was inferred to explain the Li isotope excursion in the latter case. • To discuss the Li enrichment in coals by DFT calculations and MC-ICP-MS analyses • The coals and the partings of the No. 6 coal seam may have different Li sources. • Occurrence modes of light element Li in the coals and the partings are inferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a byproduct of emerging as one of the world's key producers of pharmaceuticals, China is now challenged by the emission of harmful pharmaceutical VOCs. In this review, the catalogue and volume of VOCs emitted by the pharmaceutical industry in China was introduced. The commonly used VOC removal processes and technologies was recommended by some typical examples. The progress of catalytic combustion, photocatalytic oxidation, non-thermal plasma, and electron beam treatment were presented, especially the development of catalysts. The advantages and shortages of these technologies in recent years were discussed and analyzed. Lastly, the development of VOCs elimination technologies and the most promising technology were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the early alcohol production in Neolithic China including the increased alcohol production due to the increased diversity of specialized pottery containers in China; development of globular pottery jars as storage containers.