Recovery of Lithium Hydroxide Solution from Lithium Sulfate Solution Using Bipolar Electrodialysis

Jeeyoung Park; Woojin Seo; Youbeen Park; Sumin Lee; Kyoungkeun Yoo

doi:10.7844/kirr.2026.35.1.85

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2026 Vol.35, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper

Recovery of Lithium Hydroxide Solution from Lithium Sulfate Solution Using Bipolar Electrodialysis 양극성 전기투석을 이용한 황산리튬용액으로부터 수산화리튬용액의 회수

28 February 2026. pp. 85-90

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Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of directly recovering lithium hydroxide and sulfuric acid from lithium sulfate solutions using a bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) system. Experiments were conducted by varying process conditions including applied voltage (15-30 V), feed solution volume, and initial lithium concentration. When the applied voltage increased from 15 V to 30 V, conversion time was shortened from 5 hours to 90 minutes while maintaining similar final conversion ratios of 74-76 %. At 20 V for 2 hours, optimal conversion ratio of 74.8 % for lithium and 70.2 % for sulfur were achieved. The increases in feed solution volume or initial lithium concentration enhanced recovered lithium concentration, but conversion ratios remained constant at approximately 75 %, where pH measurements confirmed successful generation of lithium hydroxide (pH 12) in the basic recovery tank and sulfuric acid (pH 1) in the acidic recovery tank. These results indicate that BPED systems are a promising technology for simultaneous recovery of lithium hydroxide and sulfuric acid from lithium sulfate solutions.

Keywords

Bipolar Electrodialysis

lithium sulfate

lithium hydroxide

conversion ratio

본 연구는 양극성 전기투석(BPED) 시스템을 이용하여 황산리튬 용액으로부터 수산화리튬과 황산을 직접 회수하는 공정의 가능성을 평가하였다. 실험은 인가전압(15-30 V), 원료용액 부피, 리튬 초기농도의 공정 조건을 변화시키며 수행되었다. 인가전압이 15 V에서 30 V로 증가할 때 전환 시간은 5시간에서 90분으로 단축되나 최종 전환율은 74-76 %로 유사하게 나타났으며, 20 V 조건에서 2시간 처리 시 리튬과 황의 전환율이 각각 74.8 %와 70.2 %로 최적 결과를 나타냈다. 원료용액 부피 증가 또는 리튬 초기농도 증가 시 회수되는 리튬 농도는 증가하나 전환율은 약 75 %로 일정하게 유지되었으며, 이 과정에서 pH 측정 결과 염기회수탱크는 pH 12, 산회수탱크는 pH 1로 수산화리튬과 황산의 성공적인 생성을 확인하였다. 이 결과로부터 BPED 시스템을 이용할 때 황산리튬으로부터 수산화리튬과 황산을 동시에 회수가 가능하다고 판단되었다.

키워드

양극성 전기투석

황산리튬

수산화리튬

전환율

References

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
Journal Title :Resources Recycling
Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
Volume : 35
No :1
Pages :85-90
Received Date : 2025-12-23
Revised Date : 2026-02-03
Accepted Date : 2026-02-09
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2026.35.1.85

Resources Recycling ISSN:2765-3439(Print) 2765-3447(Online) 자원리싸이클링

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