that aluminum hydroxide, a mineral that is abundant in the earth’s crust, can adsorb at least five times more lithium than can be collected using previously explored adsorbent materials.leached from mining sites, oil fields, and used batteries, the researchers proved that aluminum hydroxide can act as a sorbent of lithium sulphate and hold it.
“Only when we did the measurements did we realize that the amorphous form is way, way, way less stable. That is why it is more reactive,” Kumar said. “To gain stability, it reacts very quickly compared to other forms.”Kumar is optimizing the process by which the sorbent selectively adsorbs lithium from liquids containing lithium, sodium and potassium and goes on to form LDH sulphate.. It is a charged neutral layer that contains atomic vacancies, or tiny holes. Lithium is absorbed at these sites.
Next, the researchers want to extend the process to extract more lithium and regenerate the sorbent in a specific form. Now, when the amorphous aluminum hydroxide sorbent reacts with the lithium and is later treated with hot water to remove the lithium and regenerate the sorbent, the result is a structural change in the aluminum hydroxide polymorph from amorphous to a crystalline form called bayerite.