突破“渗透性—选择性”瓶颈 新型纳滤膜实现盐湖镁锂高效分离

Core Viewpoint - Lithium is a critical raw material for electric vehicle batteries, and China has abundant lithium resources, primarily found in salt lake brines. However, separating magnesium and lithium ions in these brines is challenging due to their similar properties. A new interface polymerization strategy proposed by a research team led by Professor Sun Haixiang from China University of Petroleum (East China) aims to enhance the separation efficiency of lithium from high magnesium-lithium ratio salt lake brines [1][2][4]. Group 1: Challenges with Traditional Membranes - Traditional polyamide nanofiltration membranes face a trade-off between permeability and selectivity, making it difficult to achieve both high water flux and high lithium purity simultaneously [2]. - In high-salinity environments typical of Chinese salt lake brines, the limitations of traditional membranes become pronounced, necessitating significant freshwater dilution, which increases costs and complicates implementation in water-scarce regions [2][3]. Group 2: Innovative Interface Polymerization Strategy - The research team developed an innovative interface polymerization strategy that allows for staged control of the reaction behavior of dual aqueous phase monomers, enabling precise tuning of membrane structure and separation performance [3]. - This new approach breaks away from the traditional use of a single aqueous phase monomer, allowing for the combination of various functional monomers to create membranes tailored for specific applications [3]. Group 3: Implications for Lithium Resource Security - The new nanofiltration membrane technology promises to enhance the security of national lithium resources, particularly for the lithium supply chain associated with electric vehicles [4]. - The membrane's high permeability and selectivity can significantly reduce energy consumption, improve processing capacity, and lower initial investment costs, while also streamlining the overall process [4]. Group 4: Transition to Industrial Application - The technology is currently transitioning from laboratory to industrial application, with the research team successfully developing a new nanofiltration membrane capable of efficiently removing divalent cations from high-salinity solutions [5]. - Collaborations with companies like China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are underway to apply this membrane technology in oilfield water treatment, potentially enhancing domestic oil and gas production [5].