Ion extraction column for brine

Abstract

Methods of the present disclosure may be referred to as direct material extraction. Brine may be moved into a media bed such that extractant materials in the media bed absorb ions of a target material without absorbing other materials included in the brine. Desired ion(s) may be transported into the extractant and be held there temporally based on ionic bonds that form between the desired ions and the extractant material. Apparatuses of the present disclosure may contain the extractant material, receive brine, and may receive a stripping solution such that desired materials are separated from other materials included in the brine. After the extractant material has absorbed the desired materials, a flow of stripping solution may be used to flush other materials out of an apparatus and then to flush the desired materials out of the extractant material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for extracting target material, the apparatus comprising:
 a vessel;   extractant material within the vessel;   one or more distributors disposed above the extract material;   a structure comprising a plurality of channels, the structure located below the extractant material and configured to control fluid flow through a bottom portion of the vessel; and   a controller configured to automatically control a flow of a stripping agent and a flow of a brine stream to obtain a desired brine-water interface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each channel of the plurality of channels comprises a first end and a second end coupled to an output line. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is configured to pass fluid at the same volumetric rate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each first end comprises a ball. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each first end comprises a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each first end comprises a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each first end resides along a plane within the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each first end is configured to receive a same amount of fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an adapter between each second end and the output line. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distributors comprise a first distributor to distribute the brine stream and a second distributor to distribute the stripping agent. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first distributor comprises a first manifold and a plurality of first sprinkler arms. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second distributor comprises a second manifold and a plurality of second sprinkler arms. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first sprinkler arms is perpendicular to the plurality of second sprinkler arms. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first distributor comprises a circular shape and wherein the second distributor comprises a circular shape. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a level sensor configured to determine when a top of the brine aligns with a top of the extractant material. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a Coriolis flow meter, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device, or a chromatograph. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is configured to mitigate smearing of flows through the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the extractant material comprises beads having a sphericity of 0.85 minus or plus 2 percent. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is mobile. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for extracting target material, the apparatus comprising:
 a vessel;   a first distributor to distribute a brine stream within the vessel;   a second distributor to distribute a stripping agent within the vessel;   extractant material within the vessel and beneath the first distributor and the second distributor;   a structure comprising a plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is configured to pass fluid at the same volumetric rate; and   a controller configured to automatically control a flow of a stripping agent and a flow of a brine stream to obtain a desired brine-water interface.