LiX preparation
- Samples of NaX (Si/Al = 1.25) were obtained from commercial vendors (Aldrich, molecular sieve 13X). In this case the sodium form was exchanged six times with 1 M NH4Cl solution at T = 360−365 K for 24 h to obtain the NH4 form.
- The Li-exchanged zeolite LiX-1.25 was obtained by exchanging the NH4 form three times with 1 M LiCl for 24 h and three times with 6 M LiCl at 365 K for 24 h. The absence of NH4 was confirmed by IR using the KBr pellet technique. Full ion exchange was confirmed later by chemical analysis.
Obtaining Li
- The amount of lithium (or lithium equivalent) content in a battery or battery pack can be worked out as 0.3 x amp hour capacity. So a 2Ah battery has 0.6 grams of lithium (2 x 0.3) and a typical laptop battery pack with eight 2Ah cells has 4.8 grams (8 units x (0.3 x 2Ah))
- 18650 battery –> 2.5 Ah approx –> 0.6 g of Li
- Amount of Li needed: approx. 42 g / kg_LiX (WS calculation)
Amount of LiX needed
It can be estimated using the RPSA performance data of Figures 9 and 10 that an adsorber [3.175 cm in diameter and 55cmlong]containing∼230gofLiXzeolitewillbeadequateto produce ∼5 LPM of ∼90% O2-enriched product gas. The compressed feed air (∼3 atm) flow rate needed is ∼67 LPM. The outside diameter ofthe gastank is assumed to be∼15.2 cm which will be sufficient to hold ∼15.8 L of usable O2 product (withdrawn between 3 and 1 atm pressures).
hence: 1/4 kg LiX per patient station –> 15-20 batteries 18650 (a laptop battery may contain 6-8 batteries)
Open issues:
- How to obtain Li from batteries? 18650 batteries contain Li salts (not pure Li).
Resources:
- [PAPER] Characterization of Li Cations in Zeolite LiX by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and Neutron Diffraction
- [PAPER] Rapid Pressure Swing Adsorption for Reduction of Bed Size Factor of a Medical Oxygen Concentrator
This is work in progress. Please contribute in the comments. All valuable inputs will help us define the best solution.
does it have to be new battery or we can obtain Li from used battery?
It is unsafe to use old Li-Ion batteries . In general, if you open Li-Ion batteries, make sure to operate outside and with protective gear to protect from explosions.
I am trying to make an Oxygen concentrator. So far. i have only been able to get aquarium grade zeolite. Zeolite for oxygen concentrators are prohibitively expensive in India and they do not sell in small quantities.
Is it possible to make “LiX preparation” mentioned in the article at home?
If yes, please help me with the process.
Yes, we are working on proper documentation for LiX preparation, stay tuned.
Hi Ranjan,
You can see the prices at here:
https://dir.indiamart.com/search.mp?ss=13x (try contacting shops located in your city)
The prices are not that expensive, but yeah, they do sell in package size of 25kgs etc, maybe you could try bargaining with them the amount of kg(like buying 5-10kgs) and see if they agree.
Hi ranjan any luck getting zeolite ?
How is the aquarium zeolites performance ? Is it of any use
In our experiments, we have not found a meaningful amount of “good” zeolite in two different aquarium zeolites.
How to prepare zeolite lix
Dear Samit,
what zeolite do you have at your disposal?
Zeolite 13x
Do you getting the results immediately after starting the process?