Abstract:
The desorption solution from lithium extraction using aluminum-based lithium adsorbents in salt lakes contains a small amount of boron impurities, which can affect the purity of the subsequent lithium carbonate product and therefore requires deep removal. To address the issues of poor flowability and susceptibility to fixed-bed blockage associated with the powdered boron adsorbent UiO-66 during continuous operation, this study employed a wet spinning process to prepare UiO-66 granules. The physicochemical properties of these granules were characterised, and their boron removal performance was systematically investigated. The results indicated that the granulation process did not alter the main chemical structure or crystal form of UiO-66. Alkaline conditions and high initial boron concentrations favoured adsorption; in a simulated lithium extraction desorption solution at pH = 11 and an initial boron concentration of 500 mg/L, the adsorption capacity reached 24.78 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics results were consistent with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process was governed by chemical adsorption. The adsorption isotherms conformed to the Sips model, suggesting that the distribution of adsorption sites was non-uniform and that the adsorption process was an exothermic reaction. All co-existing anions inhibited boron adsorption, with the most significant inhibition occurring under alkaline conditions, in the order of inhibition was CO
32− > SO
42− > Cl
− > NO
3−. Increasing the feed flow rate in the fixed-bed adsorption process accelerated the adsorption rate, with a saturated adsorption capacity of 7.01 mg/g, thereby validating the practical application potential of UiO-66 granules in boron removal from lithium extraction desorption solutions.