Selective lithium recovery from XRF melting waste via H2 TiO3 ion sieve
Journal of Boron, cilt.11, sa.2, ss.114-132, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 11 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.30728/boron.1904399
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Boron
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.114-132
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Borate melting waste, Circular ecenomy, Lithium recovery, Titanium based ion-sieve
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The growing demand for lithium driven by energy storage technologies requires sustainable recovery strategies from secondary resources. In this study, lithium recovery from lithium-rich X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) melting waste was investigated using a titanium-based lithium-ion sieve via the ion-exchange method. Li2 TiO3 (LTO) was synthesized by a solid-state method and converted into protonated H2 TiO3 (HTO) through acid treatment to obtain a lithium-selective adsorbent. Structural and surface characterization confirmed the formation of a stable ion-sieve framework with increased surface area after proton exchange. XRF melting waste, mainly composed of lithium tetraborate and metaborate flux residues collected from cement plants, was subjected to acid digestion to selectively transfer lithium into the aqueous phase while minimizing co-dissolution of competing metals. Adsorption experiments revealed strong pH-dependent lithium uptake with a maximum capacity of ~36.0 mg g-1 under alkaline conditions. Isotherm and kinetic analyses indicated that the adsorption process follows the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics, suggesting monolayer chemisorption governed by ion-exchange mechanisms. Thermodynamic evaluation showed that lithium adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorbent exhibited high selectivity toward Li+ in real waste-derived solutions and maintained stable performance over repeated adsorption-desorption cycles with minimal titanium leaching. This study demonstrates the feasibility of recovering lithium from XRF melting waste and highlights a new pathway for valorizing lithium and boron-rich residues within a circular economy framework.