We assess the potential of a Donnan dialysis (DD) process for lithium brine concentration and prioritize material design opportunities from a use-informed perspective. Bench-scale batch experiments were used to validate a kinetic process model, achieving lithium concentration factors of 7.6–18.9× and recoveries of 22–74% for varying dilute lithium feed streams and operating conditions. The corresponding process model was used to assess DD performance for continuous pilot-scale concentrations of a representative lithium extraction eluate stream. Model outputs demonstrate that DD achieves comparable lithium concentration and recovery targets with similar or lower membrane area requirements compared to reverse osmosis and electrodialysis processes, respectively. A sensitivity analysis reveals the relative importance of key parameters in ion-exchange membrane design for improving DD performance (water content > charge content ≈ membrane thickness ≈ water permeability). The development of alkaline- and scaling-resistant cation exchange membranes has also been identified as a target material improvement to expand the solution compatibility limits of the DD process.

中文翻译：

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为 Donnan 透析介导的锂盐水浓度的离子交换膜设计目标提供信息


我们评估了 Donnan 透析 （DD） 工艺在锂盐水浓缩方面的潜力，并从使用信息的角度优先考虑材料设计机会。使用小规模批量实验来验证动力学过程模型，在不同稀释的锂进料流和操作条件下，锂浓度因子为 7.6–18.9× 和 22–74% 的回收率。使用相应的工艺模型评估代表性锂提取洗脱液流的连续中试规模浓度的 DD 性能。模型输出表明，与反渗透和电渗析工艺相比，DD 实现了相当的锂浓度和回收率目标，膜面积要求相似或更低。敏感性分析揭示了离子交换膜设计中关键参数对提高 DD 性能的相对重要性（含水量 >、电荷含量≈膜厚度≈透水性）。抗碱性和抗结垢阳离子交换膜的开发也已被确定为扩大 DD 工艺溶液相容性限制的目标材料改进。