METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING MAGNESIUM IN HIGH SALINITY SALAR BRINES BY NANOFILTRATION AND FORWARD OSMOSIS

摘要

Methods and systems of lowering a concentration of divalent cations in lithium- containing brines are described. A method includes diluting saturated salar brine such that sodium chloride concentration is at most about 80% of saturation. The method also includes feeding the diluted salar brine to a high pressure nanofiltration system operating at pressure above about 60 bar effective to form a permeate and a concentrate. The method also includes collecting the permeate having a lower concentration of divalent cations relative to the saturated salar brine.