Lithium

1. Basic Information

2. Physical and Chemical Properties

• Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal with a low melting point.
• It has high thermal conductivity and low viscosity.
• Reacts strongly with water to form lithium hydroxide and flammable hydrogen gas.
• Reactive with nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor in the air, forming lithium hydroxide, lithium nitrate, and lithium carbonate on its surface.

3. Presence in Water and Health Effects

• Lithium is present in small amounts in natural waters due to weathering of rocks and minerals.
• It is generally non-toxic at low levels and can be absorbed by plants.
• Exposure to very high levels of lithium can cause eye, skin, respiratory tract irritation and even pulmonary edema.
• Lithium compounds such as lithium carbonate are used in low doses to treat bipolar disorder.

4. Water Treatment Applications and Removal Methods

• Lithium ions are monovalent cations that can generally be removed from water with strongly acidic cation exchange resins.
• However, lithium has a low affinity compared to most other cations, so leakage from the resin may occur before other ionic species in the matrix.
• Lithium can only be selectively removed as an aluminum complex using special ion exchange resins.

5. Industrial Use in Water Treatment

• Lithium has limited applications directly in water treatment other than removal by ion exchangers.
• Some lithium compounds such as lithium chloride and lithium bromide are used in air conditioning systems to absorb moisture.

6. Case Study or Real World Application Example

• Lithium purification from brine for production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide for lithium batteries.
• Lithium removal from lithium battery industry wastewater using ion exchange, precipitation, and electrodialysis methods.

7. Regulatory Guidelines and Standards

• There are no WHO or EPA guidelines for maximum lithium levels in drinking water.
• Some countries have guidelines for maximum lithium levels in drinking water, such as Russia (0.03 mg/L).

8. Environmental Impact and Sustainability Considerations

• The extraction of lithium from brine and other mineral deposits can have environmental impacts due to water consumption and waste disposal.
• The increasing demand for lithium batteries is driving the development of more sustainable lithium recycling technologies.

9. Future Trends and Water Treatment Research

• Research into more effective and environmentally friendly methods of purifying lithium from brine, such as solvent extraction and lithium-selective membranes.
• Development of sustainable lithium recycling technologies from used batteries and wastewater.

10. Interesting Facts Related to Water Treatment

• Very low levels of lithium in drinking water may have mental health benefits, while high levels may have negative impacts. Further research is needed.
• The "Lithium Triangle" in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile contains about 75% of the world's lithium reserves in the form of brine ponds.