Lithium In Water Research Articles

Expert system for the ion chromatographic determination of alkali and alkaline earth metals in mineral waters

The main limiting factors (the highest concentration that may be injected, the lowest concentrations that can be determined, attainable quality of results and limitations arising from the interfering effects of ions in much higher concentrations) that could prevent the successful suppressed ion chromatographic determination of lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and strontium in any particular mineral water were obtained experimentally and organized into three databases supporting the operation of an expert system. The expert system permits the planning of appropriate dilutions, the prediction of suitable detector output ranges, the planning of the appropriate standard additions or concentrations of calibration solutions necessary for the successful quantitative analysis and predicts interferences for the determination of individual ions in particular real samples. The predictions of the expert system were checked experimentally on two different natural samples. All the predictions were realistic and, although very simple calculations were used by the expert system, appropriate distinction between different extents of interferences was achieved. The described expert system works well and offers significant support to the planning of the analysis of different natural mineral waters.

Intracavity Laser Spectrometer with Electrothermal Sample Atomization for Trace Elements Analyses

An intracavity laser spectrometer with graphite furnace electrothermal atomizer and high-resolution echelle spectrograph is described that determines trace amounts of lithium, strontium, and barium in water. The detection limits of all elements tested are much lower than those obtained by modern conventional spectrometers. They are 0.03 ng liter−1 for lithium, 0.15 ng liter−1 for strontium, and 0.2 ng liter−1 for barium. Linear standard calibration curves were considerably extended by measuring a total absorption of elements in laser spectra. The precision of the intracavity analysis was found to be approximately 10% for the lowest element content.

Effects of various elements on arsenic accumulation of the alga Dunaliella salina

AbstractThe effect of 23 various elements (nitrogen, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, zinc, selenium, gallium, nickel, cobalt, lithium, strontium, vanadium, tin, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, lead, iron, silver, copper, potassium and calcium) in water on growth and arsenic accumulation in Dunaliella saline was investigated. The order of growth inhibition of D. salina by these elements was Ag>Cd>Co>Ni>Cu>Zn>Fe>Sb>Ga>Cr>Bi>Sr>Mn>Sn>Se>Pb>V>Ca, Mg, Mo, K, Li.Arsenic accumulation in D. salina was unaffected by an increase in calcium and chromium. Also, the arsenic content in D. salina decreased at a potassium concentration of 100 mg dm−3, and was also reduced by the addition of cadmium and nitrogen; however, it was increased by the addition of lithium at 100 mg dm−3, tin, gallium, bismuth, strontium, vanadium, iron and manganese at 10 mg md−3, lead, antimony, zinc, copper cobalt and nickel at 1 mg dm−3, selenium at 0.1 mg dm−3, and silver at 0.005 mg dm−3, respectively. These results imply that arsenic accumulation by D. salina depends upon biological activity and physical adsorption.

Hydrothermal circulation, Juan de Fuca Ridge eastern flank: Factors controlling basement water composition

Pore water has been analyzed from sediment cores taken from three areas on the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge as part of FlankFlux 90, a study of hydrothermal circulation through mid‐ocean ridge flanks. Seismic reflection and heat flow surveys (Davis et al., 1992a) indicate that the three areas differ in sediment thickness, basement topography, abundance of outcrops, basement temperature, and fraction of heat lost by advection versus conduction. Area 1 is on 0.6 Ma crust with nearly continuous basement outcrop, area 2 is on 1.3 Ma crust over the first buried ridge parallel to the present ridge axis, and area 3 is on 3.5–3.8 Ma crust over two axis‐parallel buried ridges that penetrate the sediment cover in three locations. Each area includes a hydrothermal system in which seawater flows into basement, reacts with crustal basalt, and then exits basement either through the sediment or directly into the overlying water column. As constrained by concentrations of sulfate and lithium in the pore waters, at least some seawater enters basement in all three areas without reacting fully with the overlying sediment, even where no outcrops are known nearby. Speeds of up welling of pore water through the sediment have been estimated by fitting profiles of dissolved magnesium and chlorinity, which behave conservatively in these areas, to numerical time‐dependent transport models. The estimated velocities range from <0.1 to 7.4 cm/yr; faster flows probably occur but were not sampled. Upwelling speed correlates positively with heat flow and basement highs and negatively with sediment thickness. The correlation with heat flow differs from area 2 to area 3 along with differences in physical properties of the turbidite sediment. We have documented pore water upwelling through sediment up to 100 m thick. We estimate that upwelling continues at decreasing speeds through sediment up to 160 m thick, corresponding to a heat flow of 0.44 W/m2 in area 2 and 0.3 W/m2 in area 3. Concentrations of magnesium and chlorinity in the altered seawater upwelling from basement are uniform within each area but differ from one area to the next. Both species remain at the bottom seawater concentration in area 1, where basement is cooled to <10°C at the base of the sediments mainly by advection. The concentration of magnesium decreases with increasing basement temperature in areas 2 and 3 to a minimum of 2.5 mmol/kg at about 90°C in area 3. The transition from largely advective to largely conductive heat loss occurs over only 20 km between areas 1 and 2 and corresponds to a dramatic change in the composition of fluid circulating through basement, as the uppermost basement is heated from <10° to 40–50°C. Chlorinity of the basement fluid increases above the present‐day bottom seawater concentration in areas 2 and 3 and in nearly all other mid‐ocean ridge flanks studied to date, as a result of rock hydration and the higher chlorinity of bottom seawater during the last glacial period. While chlorinity generally correlates positively with uppermost basement temperature in various ridge flank hydrothermal systems, it reaches a maximum in area 2 at only 40°C, probably because alteration there occurs at a lower water/rock ratio than elsewhere. For all mid‐ocean ridge flanks studied to date, the temperature at the basement interface correlates better with the fraction of heat lost by advection versus conduction and with the average thickness of the sediment cover than with crustal age.

Salt origin viewed from lithium distributions in lake and pond waters in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Lithium and major ionic components in pond and lake waters of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica were determined to elucidate the origin of dissolved salts. The high Li concentrations with high Ef...

Modification of phenolic resins containing crown ether units

Phenolic resins containing 13-crown-4 and 9-crown-3 units (1) were modified by coupling and nitration in heterogeneous phase. The chromogenic resins extract Li+ selectively and efficiently, and no extractions of Na+ were found. The extractions were carried out with aqueous solutions of lithium and aqueous solutions of sodium chloride at pH=7 and 11. Finally, re-extraction analysis of lithium in methanol and water were made. Resins release partially the cation. Major re-extraction was obtained with methanol.

Adsorption of lithium in sea water on alumina—magnesia mixed-oxide gels

Alumina—magnesia gel, which was prepared from a mixed solution of equimolar aluminum and magnesium chlorides by coprecipitation using sodium hydroxide as the precipitant, exhibited an ability to adsorb lithium from sea water. This was attributed to both the weak acidic sites and the micropores of diameter 20–30Å. The adsorption of lithium proceeded predominantly by the cation-exchange mechanism. The facility of ion exchange of lithium with monovalent cations located on the gel surface was shown to be in the order Na + ⪢ H + ⪢ NH + 4. The Freundlich-type adsorption isotherm was used to relate the amount of lithium adsorbed to the equilibrium concentration of lithium in sea water. The amount of lithium adsorbed on the best binary gel was 100μ g −1 at a lithium concentration in sea water of 0.17 mg dm −3. The elution of lithium adsorbed on the binary gel was achieved with a relatively small amount of 0.05 mol dm −3 hydrochloric acid. It has, therefore, been confirmed that the lithium in sea water can be concentrated up to 7 times using this technique.

Adsorption Characteristics of Lithium in Sea Water with Coprecipitated Alumina-Magnesia Gel

Abstract Alumina-magnesia mixed-oxide gel exhibited adsorptive ability for lithium in sea water attributed to weak acidic sites and micro-pores of diameter 20–30 Å. The adsorption of lithium proceeded predominantly by the mechanism of ion-exchange, on which the facility was shown in the order of Na+> H+> NH4+. The elution of lithium adsorbed on the gel was complete with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Low to Intermediate Subsurface Temperatures Calculated by Chemical Geothermometers: ABSTRACT

The concentrations of silica and proportions of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, and magnesium in water from hot springs and geothermal wells have been combined into 14 chemical geothermometers that are used successfully to estimate the subsurface temperatures of the reservoir rocks. Modified versions of these 14 geothermometers and a new chemical geothermometer, based on the concentrations of magnesium and lithium, were used to estimate the subsurface temperatures (40°C-200°C) of more than 200 formation-water samples from about 30 oil and gas fields located in coastal Texas and Louisiana, Central Valley, California, and North Slope, Alaska. The new Mg-Li geothermometer, which can be used to estimate subsurface temperatures as high as 350°C, is given by t = (1,900/(4.67 + log[(CMg)0.5/CLi]) - 273 where t is temperature (°C) and C is the concentration (mg/L) of the subscripted cation. Quartz, Mg-Li, Na-K-Ca-Mg, and Na-Li geothermometers give concordant subsurface temperatures that are within 10°C of the measured values for reservoir temperatures higher than about 70°C. Mg-Li, Na-Li, chalcedony, and Na-K geothermometers give the best results for reservoir temperatures from 40°C to 70°C. Subsurface temperatures calculated by chemical geothermometers are at least as reliable as those obtained by conventional methods. Chemical and conventional methods should be used together where reliable temperature data are required. End_of_Article - Last_Page 273------------

Some problems observed in the determination of lithium in waste waters by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

The atomic-absorption determination of lithium in waste waters using the air-acetylene flame is prone to chemical interference effects on some instruments. These effects are considered to be significant when the lithium tracer technique is used for flow monitoring. The use of the hotter dinitrogen oxide-acetylene flame is recommended to minimise these effects. For acceptable precision (a relative standard deviation of less than 1%) it is essential to employ an intense lithium source when using this hotter flame.

Spectrofluorometric Determination of Serum Lithium Using 1, 8-Dihydroxyanthraquinone

Abstract Serum samples are deproteinized with an equal volume of acetone and 20 μl of the filtrate is added to 1 ml of 2.5 × 10−4 M KOH and 1.0 × 10−4 M 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinone in 90% (V/V) acetone. Single point calibration with spiked serum at 1.5 mmol/l is used with unspiked serum as blank. Fluorescence emission is measured at 618 nm, with excitation at 410 nm. Samples analyzed by the described method and by atomic absorption spectrometry showed a correlation coefficient of 0.985. The relative responses for lithium in water, serum eletrolyte matrix and serum were 100, 57, and 44, respectively. The Li response in serum relative to that for Na, K, Ca, and Mg was 480, 600, 33, and 27, respectvely.

Origin of dissolved minor elements (Li, Rb, Sr, Ba) in superificial waters in a granitic area.

The behaviour of rubidium, lithium, strontium and barium in superficial waters of a granitic area are compared with the behaviour of the associated major element: potassium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Fractionation during dissolution is important for the Rb/K couple, whereas fractionation during deposition of new-formed minerals or uptake by vegetation is important for Mg/Li and K/Ba. Auxiliary minerals seem to play an important part in the relative concentrations of strontium and calcium in the waters.

Determination of the lithium and rubidium in sea water by double channel flame emission spectrophotometry

A precise and accurate technique for the determination of Li and Rb in sea water has been developed by using a double channel flame emission spectrophotometer. The advantage of this technique is that it is possible to correct the background emission by making use of the double channel system of the apparatus and to obtain constant intensity of emission even if there are large scale changes in the salinity of the sample. Sea water samples collected in the open sea and coastal areas of Japan were analyzed by this method. In one of the coastal areas, an extraordinarily high concentration of Li was found.

Determination of lithium traces in microliters of water, wine and high purity solvents by stable isotope dilution and field desorption mass spectrometry

In this work, the applicability of field desorption mass spectrometry for the determination of lithium in mineral and tap water, wine and high-purity solvents has been examined. Because of the outstanding sensitivity of field desorption mass spectrometry for alkali cations and the high specificity of mass spectrometry, it was possible to determine lithium from microlitre samples by using the method of stable isotope dilution. Lithium, at levels of 10−7–10−4 mg/ ml, was determined in the samples without any pretreatment. The time required for one analysis was about 20–30 min. The results from quantitative analyses of mineral water were compared with others obtained by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry and were in good agreement. The very small concentrations of lithium in wine and high-purity solvents, which are too low to be measured by conventional atomic-absorption techniques, can be determined accurately without difficulty by field desorption mass spectrometry.

イオン・リターデーション樹脂による海水中リチウムの濃縮に関する研究

As a part of fundamental studies on the collection of lithium from sea water, ion exchange experiments were performed by using a resin of the ion retardation type.By using Retardion 11A-8 as adsorbent and pure water as elutant, lithium in natural sea water (Li Concentration 0.09 mg/l) was concentrated by factor larger than two, as the result of which Lithium concentration of initial part of elutes reached more than 0.2 mg/i. The multistage ion exchange was much effective to the enrichment of lithium in sea water.

Cumulative Toxic Effects of Boron, Lithium, and Sodium in Water Used for Hydroponic Production of Tomatoes1

Abstract ‘Tropic’ tomato plants were grown in solution cultures to compare the individual and combined effects of B, Li, Na in the water used to bring solutions up to volume (make-up water). Leaf chlorosis and necrosis were evident after the concentration of B, Li, and Na were increased to 2, 2, and 140 ppm, respectively, in the makeup water. Threshold leaf concentration above which toxicity was evident, are estimated at 170, 80 and 7000 ppm, respectively. Additive effects were not found among these elements at lower concentration.

Determination of lithium in sea water by atomic absorption and by flame emission spectrophotometry

Comparison of two instrumental methods for the analysis of lithium in sea water showed that both atomic absorption and flame emission spectrophotometry can be used without pretreatment of the sample. The interference of the other constituents of sea water in the analysis has been studied. Calibrations using an artificial sea water or the standard addition method may be used.

Étude d'équilibres en solution à l'aide des échangeurs d'ions: II Détermination des constantes de dissociation des perchlorates alcalins dans les mélanges eau—acide acétique—acide perchlorique

The thermodynamic dissociation constants of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium perchlorates in water—acetic acid—perchloric acid mixtures have been determined by an ion-exchange method. The distribution coefficients of alkaline elements have been measured in water—acetic acid—perchloric acid mixtures containing a variable quantity of water (4–100 % by weight) and a constant amount of perchloric acid. The variation of these distribution coefficients with perchloric acid concentration has been studied in various mixtures containing a constant amount of water (less than 20 % w w ). The results have been used to determine the dissociation constants of alkaline perchlorates and the selectivity coefficients of alkaline ions and hydrogen ion in the aqueous organic mixtures studied.

Mood and lithium in drinking water.

To assess the possible relationship of lithium in the drinking water to some aspects of mental health, drinking water samples were collected from the homes of 384 individuals in Washington County, Md, who had been randomly selected for interview in a community mental health assessment program. The water was analyzed for lithium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry without knowledge of the interview results. The questionnaire contained the Lubin depression adjective check list, Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression and functioning scales, a general happiness question (Gurin), an aggression scale, and the Cantril ladder for self-rating of present status. In an area with low-to-moderate levels of lithium in the drinking water, there was no evidence to confirm earlier suggestions that the presence of lithium might be beneficial.

Coupling of lithium to sodium transport in human red cells.

THE administration of lithium salts is often used in the treatment of affective psychoses1. Mendels et al.2–4 and others5 have measured the concentrations of lithium in blood plasma and red cells of patients and normal individuals receiving such salts. They have argued that the lithium concentrations in red cells can be correlated with the clinical status of these people4 and, therefore, can possibly be related to the pathogenesis of the mental disorders. They found that the concentration of lithium in red cell water is about one-third of that in the blood plasma during chronic administration of LiCl (ref. 4). This fact is surprising since it would suggest that Li+ is actively transported by the red cell membrane. The steady-state value of the ratio of internal to external concentration for a monovalent cation which is not actively transported should be about 1.2 (ref. 6). Previous observations in red cells7 and squid axons8 suggested that Li+ is not transported by the Na–K pump. Furthermore, the net efflux of Li+ into Li+-free medium was unaffected by the presence of ouabain4. The experiments described here were designed to clarify the mechanisms of this seemingly ouabain-insensitive ‘active’ transport of lithium ions in human red cells.