WaterSolutions Separation of Lithium from Liquid Media

Water / Wastewater: Lithium has a very low affinity for strong acid cation exchange resins, so lithium can only be selectively removed as an aluminum complex as described in the two references given below.

Metathesis of Lithiam: Lithium is somtimes a desired self form for specialty chemicals. Because lithium is a very low selectivity cation, it is readily released in exchange for other cations. Dow offers a lithium form resin as DOWEX™ HGR NG (Li) resin. DOWEX G-26 (H) cation resin can be converted to the lithium form by washing the H Form of the resin with excess LiOH.
 

References

"Recovering Lithium from Brines" Lee, John M. and Bauman, William C. US Patent 4,347,327 August 31, 1982

"Regeneration of Crystalline Lithium Aluminates" Burba, III: John L. US Patent 4,472,362 September 18, 1984