Bases técnicas para el diseño conceptual sustentable para la producción de carbonato de litio de las salmueras del salar de Coipasa
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REV. MAMYM
Abstract
En Bolivia, el altiplano es una cuenca endorreica de ±200000 km² ubicada a 4000 msnm que se encuentra entre la Cordillera Occidental y Oriental, y que por sus características meteorológicas que presenta dicha cuenca, tiene las condiciones ideales para la formación de ambientes evaporíticos. Dos amplias costras de sal llenan el centro Altiplano: se les conoce como Salar de Uyuni (10000 km², 3653 m) y Salar de Coipasa (2500 km², 3656 m). El Salar de Coipasa (68°8'W, 19°23'S), es el segundo salar más grande del Altiplano boliviano, y se encuentra al noroeste del Salar de Uyuni. El salar de Coipasa tiene mayor significancia como recurso estratégico de litio para el departamento de Oruro en Bolivia. En el marco de la Federal Direction for International Cooperation (DGCI) (1996-2000), la Universidad belga de Liege y la Universidad Técnica de Oruro, han efectuado una prospección del Salar de Coipasa sistemática con una malla de 2 por 2 km y extraído muestras de salmueras cuyos resultados de análisis químicos arrojaron una concentración media de litio de 339.1 mg/L y relaciones de Mg/Li y SO4/Li de 42.74 y 83.14, respectivamente, previéndose extracciones de litio por el proceso convencional por piscinas de evaporación y posteriores etapas de eliminación de impurezas hasta la obtención de LiCO3 por debajo del 20 % por el arrastre del litio en los productos de la etapa de enriquecimiento por cristalización y en la eliminación de impurezas de precipitación. Por otra parte, la evaporación en la zona del Salar de Coipasa es menor a 1500 mm y las precipitaciones fluviales oscilan entre 100 y 200 mm; por lo que para alcanzar una producción mayor a 15000 t de LiCO3 se requerirían más de 3000 Has en piscinas de evaporación, con tiempos de tratamiento más largos que 18 meses de operación. Por tanto, se califica de "técnicamente difícil la posibilidad de extracción de litio de las salmueras de Coipasa a través de procesos convencionales". Es decir, la extracción de litio del salar de Coipasa debe efectuarse por el método de extracción directa, considerando sus ventajas competitivas de mayor eficiencia, tiempos cortos de extracción, costos competitivos y significativamente una menor huella hídrica. El proceso propuesto involucra el proceso de adsorción - desorción, membranas y ósmosis inversa, se constituiría en el proceso más adecuado para la obtención de LiCO3 de las salmueras del salar de Coipasa, zona de alta escases hídrica.
In Bolivia, the altiplano is an endorheic basin of ±200,000 km2 located at 4000 meters above sea level that is located between the Western and Eastern Cordillera, and due to its meteorological characteristics that said basin presents, it has ideal conditions for the formation of evaporitic environments. Two broad salt coasts fill the central Altiplano: they are known as Salar de Uyuni (10,000 km², 3,653 m) and Salar de Coipasa (2,500 km², 3,656 m). The Salar de Coipasa (68°8'W, 19°23'S), is the second largest salt flat in the Bolivian Altiplano, and is located northwest of the Salar de Uyuni. The Coipasa salt flat is of greater importance as a strategic lithium resource for the department of Oruro in Bolivia. Within the framework of the Federal Directorate of International Cooperation (DGCI) (1996-2000), the Belgian University of Liege and the Technical University of Oruro, have carried out a systematic survey of the Salar de Coipasa with a 2 by 2 km mesh and extracted brine samples whose chemical analysis results showed an average lithium concentration of 339.1 mg/L and Mg/Li and SO4/Li ratios of 42.74 and 83.14, respectively, foreseeing lithium extraction by the conventional process through evaporation pools and subsequent. impurity elimination stages until obtaining LiCO3 below 20% by removing lithium in the products of the enrichment stage by crystallization and in the elimination of precipitation impurities. On the other hand, evaporation in the Salar de Coipasa area is less than 1500 mm and river rainfall ranges between 100 and 200 mm; Therefore, to achieve a production greater than 15,000 t of LiCO3, more than 3,000 hectares of evaporation pools would be required, with treatment times longer than 18 months of operation. Therefore, the possibility of extracting lithium from Coipasa brines through conventional processes is described as "technically difficult." That is, the extraction of lithium from the Coipasa salt flat should be carried out by the direct extraction method, considering its competitive advantages of greater efficiency, short extraction times, competitive costs and significantly a smaller water footprint. The proposed process involves the adsorption-desorption process, membranes and reverse osmosis, it would constitute the most appropriate process for obtaining LiCO3 from the brines of the Coipasa salt flat, an area of high water scarcity.
In Bolivia, the altiplano is an endorheic basin of ±200,000 km2 located at 4000 meters above sea level that is located between the Western and Eastern Cordillera, and due to its meteorological characteristics that said basin presents, it has ideal conditions for the formation of evaporitic environments. Two broad salt coasts fill the central Altiplano: they are known as Salar de Uyuni (10,000 km², 3,653 m) and Salar de Coipasa (2,500 km², 3,656 m). The Salar de Coipasa (68°8'W, 19°23'S), is the second largest salt flat in the Bolivian Altiplano, and is located northwest of the Salar de Uyuni. The Coipasa salt flat is of greater importance as a strategic lithium resource for the department of Oruro in Bolivia. Within the framework of the Federal Directorate of International Cooperation (DGCI) (1996-2000), the Belgian University of Liege and the Technical University of Oruro, have carried out a systematic survey of the Salar de Coipasa with a 2 by 2 km mesh and extracted brine samples whose chemical analysis results showed an average lithium concentration of 339.1 mg/L and Mg/Li and SO4/Li ratios of 42.74 and 83.14, respectively, foreseeing lithium extraction by the conventional process through evaporation pools and subsequent. impurity elimination stages until obtaining LiCO3 below 20% by removing lithium in the products of the enrichment stage by crystallization and in the elimination of precipitation impurities. On the other hand, evaporation in the Salar de Coipasa area is less than 1500 mm and river rainfall ranges between 100 and 200 mm; Therefore, to achieve a production greater than 15,000 t of LiCO3, more than 3,000 hectares of evaporation pools would be required, with treatment times longer than 18 months of operation. Therefore, the possibility of extracting lithium from Coipasa brines through conventional processes is described as "technically difficult." That is, the extraction of lithium from the Coipasa salt flat should be carried out by the direct extraction method, considering its competitive advantages of greater efficiency, short extraction times, competitive costs and significantly a smaller water footprint. The proposed process involves the adsorption-desorption process, membranes and reverse osmosis, it would constitute the most appropriate process for obtaining LiCO3 from the brines of the Coipasa salt flat, an area of high water scarcity.
Description
Vol. 9, No. 1