Porous manganese-based ion sieve for sustainable lithium extraction from brine: High-efficiency adsorption and rapid kinetics

In response to the increasing demand for lithium in industrial applications, efficient lithium extraction methods have become a research focus. This study presents the synthesis of porous manganese-based lithium-ion sieve adsorbent (HMn₂O₄) for the selective recovery of lithium from brine. A high-temperature solid-phase method was employed to prepare a porous LiMn₂O₄ precursor, increasing the interaction between the adsorbent and lithium-containing solutions. The results showed that porous HMn₂O₄ achieved high adsorption rates and capacity, with the equilibrium reached in 5–30 min and lithium adsorption reaching up to 30.83 mg·g⁻¹. Moreover, after ten adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity of the sample remained at 91.85 % relative to the pristine adsorbent, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. These findings suggest that the porous HMn₂O₄ adsorbent is a promising candidate for large-scale lithium extraction from salt lakes, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to meet the growing demand for lithium.