我国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 brine. However, separating magnesium and lithium ions in high magnesium-lithium ratio brine is challenging due to the limitations of traditional nanofiltration membranes [1][2]. Group 1: Challenges in Traditional Filtration - 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, such as China's salt lake brine, the limitations of traditional membranes become more pronounced, necessitating significant freshwater dilution, which increases costs and complicates implementation in water-scarce regions [2]. Group 2: Innovative Solutions - A research team led by Professor Sun Haixiang proposed a novel interface polymerization strategy to control the structure of nanofiltration membranes, enabling efficient separation of magnesium and lithium ions from high magnesium-lithium ratio brine [3]. - This innovative strategy allows for precise control over the reaction behavior of dual aqueous phase monomers, breaking the limitations of traditional single monomer approaches and enabling the creation of membranes tailored for specific separation needs [3]. Group 3: Application and Future Prospects - The new nanofiltration membrane technology holds promise for ensuring the security of national lithium resources, particularly for the lithium supply chain related to electric vehicles [4]. - The high permeability and selectivity of the new membranes can significantly reduce energy consumption, enhance processing capacity, and lower initial investment and operational costs, making it a viable solution for industrial applications [4]. - The technology is currently transitioning from laboratory to industrial application, with successful collaborations underway with companies like China National Offshore Oil Corporation to apply the membranes in oilfield water treatment [5].